It has been almost four years since I enrolled to be a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. I remember that day like it was yesterday. The questions, the nerves, the butterflies, and the fears are unforgettable. I had no idea what I was getting myself into at the time and I definitely… Continue reading Proud Moments of a Mentor
Blog
Kickball and Reading Books Break Down Barriers
When you pull into the Autumn Woods apartment complex, you feel as if you have entered a different country. That country, in fact, is Myanmar (formerly called Burma). Men and women are walking about in traditional Burmese dress. Children are running around in bare feet while wearing clothes that are clearly hand-me-downs. The complex dumpsters… Continue reading Kickball and Reading Books Break Down Barriers
Greyhounds In The Park
We love animals, especially dogs. Greyhounds are a favorite. Greyhounds are a docile and easy-going breed of dog that make for great pets. We should know, we have adopted three retired racing greyhounds into our family over the years. Jag (racing name Jagged Puzzle) raced in Daytona, Florida before becoming a beloved member of our… Continue reading Greyhounds In The Park
A Cardinal Friend
Have you ever smiled so much that your face hurt? Experienced soreness in your cheeks from a "perma-grin"? I have and it happened this week. I had been in the car for more than twenty minutes after completing a volunteer experience when I realized that I will still smiling. I had such a great time… Continue reading A Cardinal Friend
I Want To Empower Women
Raised the daughter of a Baptist pastor, I have always had a desire for helping others, but I never knew in what avenue or even if I was mature or equipped enough for the task. So I spent much of my youth in Richmond, VA (where I was born and raised) pouring into needy and… Continue reading I Want To Empower Women
A Stranger, Teens, and The Zoo
Our journey continues and year 3 is underway. It started the same way that year 2 of our project began, with a volunteer experience in an animal enrichment workshop. The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo is a non-profit that has the mission to connect children with animals while strengthening families and inspiring others to care. It… Continue reading A Stranger, Teens, and The Zoo
Painting For Children
We are not artists. We are not painters. We are not professionals. We are volunteers. This week, the kind folks at Crossroad Child and Family Services learned that first hand. We arrived on the 47 acre campus of Crossroad Child and Family Services on a beautiful Saturday morning. It was our first visit and introduction… Continue reading Painting For Children
Improving The Lives of Those with HIV/AIDS
I first heard about the HIV/AIDS virus as a youth growing up in Indiana in the mid 80s. Ryan White, an Indiana teen, was expelled from his middle school after contracting the virus through a contaminated blood treatment. The story created a firestorm of media coverage while raising millions of questions in communities all over… Continue reading Improving The Lives of Those with HIV/AIDS
Lending A Hand Through A New Store
The Franciscan Center has been lending a hand to its neighbors for more than twenty years. Those in our community who are less fortunate are served through programs like food pantries, sack lunch deliveries, and a medicine cabinet. In fact, the organization serves more than 100,000 people in our area every year. We were first… Continue reading Lending A Hand Through A New Store
I’m Born To
What were you born to? Were you born to sing, to dance, to become a parent, to practice medicine, or change the world? There is no doubt that we were all born to be and/or do something. I believe that I was born to positively impact the lives of others. That is my purpose and thus… Continue reading I’m Born To
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