Volunteers Make a Difference

A message from the Director:

People always ask me how we stand up to the troubles that land on children’s shoulders. “Isn’t it hard to work with abused and neglected kids? Isn’t it frustrating to see the things that go wrong?” are common questions. I always have the same answer. It would be much more difficult to be standing by unable to make a difference for children.

One of the great joys of Kids Matter is being part of a community of volunteers who see opportunities to help kids. We never run out of inspiration, because someone here is always doing something that makes a difference in the community.

Let me give you an example. Families who have taken in related children are really feeling the pressure of the downturn in the economy. Many of the grandparents who have taken in grandchildren are on fixed incomes. Lots of people who have been the solid foundation upon which their extended family is based are losing jobs, and are stretched to the breaking point. Families that have never asked for help before are suddenly finding that they can’t afford a winter coat for a growing child. What to do?

Our energetic Lutheran Volunteer Corps volunteer, Heather Tousignant, was concerned by the early blast of winter weather and the number of kids without coats. She sent out a single email request for help to some of our volunteers – and we had more than 140 coats in two weeks. CASA volunteer Mary Boettcher reached out to her friends Dotti and Thomas Binder at the law firms of Simpson Deardorff and Reinhart, Boerner Van Deuren SC. Heather’s family in Missouri and the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church pitched in.

We can look outside and see the snow. Or we can focus on how quickly people in this community can pitch in to keep children warm.

It helps to be able to help. Watch this space for more profiles of volunteers making a difference.

Susan Conwell