Volunteer Program Spotlight: Family Relief Nursery
When Shirley Carpenter’s husband died of cancer one month before their 50th anniversary, everything in her life changed.
“We used to go to concerts and volunteer with Meals on Wheels,” Shirley shares. “After he died, I hated doing the work because it reminded me so much of Johnnie.” But their shared love of volunteering showed Shirley the path to a new life.
Shirley first volunteered to read to children through SMART, but found there was no time to get to know them. Two years ago, her daughter attended the Family Relief Nursery Breakfast and brought her mother brochures about volunteering. Soon, Shirley began spending her mornings giving one-on-one attention to toddlers.
“I was immediately hooked,” Shirley remembers. “Touching, hugging, personal contact – the love and laughter I was missing. I was not in good shape, and I’m so amazed at how it is healing me!”
Each volunteer is fulfilled in a different way. Tasnim Sauby, an occupational therapy student who volunteers in each of FRN’s three classrooms, loves learning about new activities and working with different age groups. She also appreciates being a part of something that matters.
“Everybody cares about each and every child here, and that feels very special,” says Tasnim.
Heather Klotz, a toddler room teacher, says she couldn’t survive without the consistent volunteers the kids know by name and are excited to see. While staff are busy with diaper changes and mealtimes, volunteers lead group activities like painting and parachute play that are otherwise too difficult for one or two teachers to manage.
“It’s like having a second teacher,” Heather says. She remembers a child who wanted to be constantly held and didn’t connect with anyone. Then he bonded with a volunteer who gave him one-on-one attention, and found comfort in a routine he couldn’t rely on at home.
“Seeing them get their baskets, set the table, have their meal – I’m blown away,” Shirley says. She is touched by watching the children grow and knowing she provides some balance to their often chaotic lives.
The presence of volunteers also has a profound effect on parents. Jennifer, the parent of a toddler, looks to Shirley Clover as the grandmother she never had. “She is the sweetest, most genuine and trustworthy lady,” Jennifer says. “She adds a grandma’s touch to the classroom.”
Volunteers will provide even more support over the next year thanks to the Oregon Community Foundation’s Babies and Boomers grant, which will fund volunteer program training and development while FRN engages more volunteers of retirement age. Michelle Reynolds, FRN’s Program Director, has plans to expand volunteer opportunities to include parent mentoring and classes such as budgeting and cooking.
But the core of the program will remain classroom support. Improved volunteer retention over the past year, which has placed more consistent volunteers in more classrooms, has proven just how important they are.
“Volunteers put 100% focus on the children,” says Bethany Froese, FRN Program and Volunteer Coordinator. “They are truly in the moment and so invaluable to our program.”
“FRN has become my entertainment and my exercise,” says Shirley. “I feel guilty because I can’t give back what it’s given to me.”
Thank you, FRN volunteers, for the profound impact of your commitment on the vulnerable children in our community!
by Nancy Loso, Volunteer Resources Coordinator