Volunteer Spotlight – Nia and Melinda

This post is from Carina, who is a high school intern at St. Anthony Foundation’s Free Clothing Program:

These wonderful and beautiful women, Nia (right) and Melinda (left), have been volunteering at St. Anthony Foundation’s Free Clothing Program through the Rapid Response Program of Arriba Juntos. Through their dedicated service, they have changed lives, including their own and they want to share a little about themselves with you.

I enjoyed working with these ladies because they always brought a smile to my face. They are exuberant, funny, and most importantly, amazing women. They have so much potential and I wish them the best of luck after their time here at our Free Clothing Program.

Nia:

Nia was called to volunteer at our Free Clothing Program because in the previous year she had already developed volunteer experience with our program.

When I asked Nia what she liked most about volunteering, she said that she loved to help people and also seeing the smiles on their faces would make her happy. In her heart, she strongly believes she is changing people’s lives.  (And she is right!) She is helping our guests see that there is help for them. She wants people to know that she is there to help and also that there are resources that are willing to help people in need. Nia has a personal connection with St. Anthony Foundation, which is why she wants to give back to the community that gave to her to better herself.

Melinda:

Melinda got a call from Arriba Juntos’s Rapid Response Services, which helped her find the volunteer opportunity here at our Free Clothing Program. When she first arrived here, she was scared and she felt like she did not fit in because she had not worked in an environment like the one in St. Anthony Foundation where she may interact with guests before. Melinda explained to me that she has a personal connection with St. Anthony’s; she used to be a guest of our Free Clothing Program. She slept outdoors near Golden Gate Park with her children, but she always had faith in God. She knew God was going to help her out in the near future. Now she has a home, she has a job, and she has clothing.  She explains that “San Francisco has a lot of resources, which will help people move forward.” Melinda took the opportunity here at St. Anthony’s because she wanted to better herself and also help others because she knows what it is like to be homeless and with little resources. Melinda got out of her comfort zone and interacted with clients, developing strong connections with many. She states, “Here at St. Anthony Foundation, we do not judge people, we listen and we help them move forward.”

These wonderful women love to help out because they want to see those smiles on the families we help. These women have become more understanding, more humble, and more attentive to others through their time here. They have not only given, but have also received help in the past. They themselves have become better and stronger women by helping others.