Volunteer Spotlight: Kristen

Meet Kristen. A Los Angeles County native studying Integrated Educational Studies at Chapman University. Kristen was first connected to Friendly Center because she had to do a fieldwork assignment for one of her classes and Friendly Center was referred to her from the instructor. After learning about the services Friendly Center offered to the community, Kristen wanted to get more involved.

She started by volunteering at the annual Easter Basket distribution where she was part of distributing 1,000 Easter Baskets to children. Having enjoyed her time, she wanted to volunteer again, but this time as a volunteer tutor in the summer tutoring program in which she volunteered one day a week for the 4-week summer program.

Kristen thought the summer tutoring program might be the last time she would volunteer. She initially wasn’t sure how much she contributed coming just one day a week. However, one student made her a thank you card that truly touched her and as a result, Kristen decided to continue tutoring into the Fall semester. “After that day I felt like I had to come back during the school year to continue my time at Friendly Center!”

Friendly Center is grateful to have volunteers like Kristen that touch the lives of so many each day without knowing. In Kristen’s case, she has personal handwritten proof of the impact she made and she says she will treasure that card forever.