Volunteer Spotlight
Last year, more than 850 volunteers helped Volunteers of America Oregon's dedicated employees to serve over 15,000 people in the Portland metro area. Here is the story of just one of the hundreds of individuals who give of their time, talents, and effort to help us make a difference in the lives of so many:
Elise exudes grounded kindness, integrity, and strength - like a cool big sister who will hit it to you straight, but has a huge heart. Her genuine appreciation and affection for the girls she has been working with for the past year has opened doors for them to a new life through Youth Prevention Services.
"As a teen, I learned from friends and magazines like Cosma, which was an awful education," Elise recalls. "Teens are figuring out where they are and who they want to be, so they need someone who's not an authority to help with the transition. It takes a lot of bravery to be a young girl and navigate life."
Read more about Elise's reflections on connecting with teen girls and coaching them through arguably the most challenging transition of their lives.