Ms. Tedria Walker is not just a volunteer, she is THE volunteer. After being laid off, she refused to turn into a depressed, unemployed cocoon on her living room couch. Instead, she started volunteering at the club - helping in the gym, organizing the mass of backpacks behind the front counter and assisting with educational programs. She was also named this year's Volunteer of the Year.
What's the best part about the work you do?
"The kids. Whenever they see me, they give me a big hug. They ask my opinion about certain things, talk to me about school or what's going on in their life. They'e really great."
How has volunteering changed you?
"It made me realize, even more, how loving these kids are. I realize how much they really need someone to talk to them and be their friend. They need to be able to find a friend in an older person who can give them real-life advice."
Why is volunteering so important?
"The kids need to know there are people who really care about them - people who are genuine and have good, open hearts. They need to know we all want them to become something, to go to college and become a positive force in the future. Then maybe, when they get older, they'll want to volunteer too and make a difference in a younger kid's life."
Article courtesy of the Journal Gazette's, Emma Downs
