A Year of Service with Giving Children Hope
My coast to coast journey and the lessons I’ve learned along the way…
It’s been nearly a year since I left my job in New York and joined Giving Children Hope to pursue socially impactful work. On little more than a gut feeling, I decided a year of hustle and bustle in The Big Apple was long enough and I was compelled to refocus my work with an organization that could teach me about service, particularly with regard to poverty.
After a short stint back home in Atlanta, I accepted a year-long fellowship position with AmeriCorps, a national service organization that places volunteers with nonprofit organizations. Following several phone calls, I was placed at GCH. It was time for my journey to begin, both figuratively and literally.
With my new job starting in just over a week, I had a big hoop to jump through first: the 2,200-mile drive from Atlanta to Los Angeles. I scrambled to find a comrade for this cross-country road trip, convincing my best friend to join me for the journey. We packed the car to the brim with my belongings and set out on the open road.
For anyone with the means to do so, I highly recommend a cross-country road trip; it’s one of the most incredible experiences. I’ve spent most of my life on the east coast and as a result, I remained a stranger to much of the United States. This trip served as my formal introduction to the rest of the country. The hours on the road also gave me time to think hard about my transition into volunteer service.
Things began quickly at GCH. After meeting all the staff, I had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects across all departments. One of my best memories occurred during a volunteer Saturday. I was placed with a team of eight volunteers to sort medical supplies for a container that was being distributed the following week. One of the women on my team was very interested in how I ended up working for GCH. When I told her that I moved from the east coast, she wanted to know what motivated me to do so. She asked me what I like about the work and what I want to do in the future. As I thought about her questions, my perspective changed. While my time with GCH was limited to a year, the lessons I learn will last a lifetime. My professional path was gaining new shape and I began to realize the grace of working on behalf of the underserved.
After 10 months, I can say with confidence that this organization’s biggest asset is its people. Everyone here truly cares about their work and, even more so, they want to make a difference in the lives of others. I’ve been given the opportunity to coordinate a holiday gift program for more than 1,000 needy children, sort medical supplies with volunteers, and form civic relationships with the community.
My time here at GCH allowed me to experience a true sense of service, which has impacted the trajectory of my life, both professionally and philosophically.
The people here are dedicated and work tirelessly behind the scenes to enhance the livelihood of those most desperate. It’s an amazing thing to see and experience.
Thank you, Giving Children Hope for such a great year!
**Special guest blog was contributed by Ben Hansen. Ben has been with Giving Children Hope for ten months, serving with AmeriCorps. At the end of his year-long commitment, Ben will pursue a Master’s Degree at Columbia University in New York. Thank you Ben for your service to GCH.**
A Year of Service with Giving Children Hope
My coast to coast journey and the lessons I’ve learned along the way…
It’s been nearly a year since I left my job in New York and joined Giving Children Hope to pursue socially impactful work. On little more than a gut feeling, I decided a year of hustle and bustle in The Big Apple was long enough and I was compelled to refocus my work with an organization that could teach me about service, particularly with regard to poverty.
After a short stint back home in Atlanta, I accepted a year-long fellowship position with AmeriCorps, a national service organization that places volunteers with nonprofit organizations. Following several phone calls, I was placed at GCH. It was time for my journey to begin, both figuratively and literally.
With my new job starting in just over a week, I had a big hoop to jump through first: the 2,200-mile drive from Atlanta to Los Angeles. I scrambled to find a comrade for this cross-country road trip, convincing my best friend to join me for the journey. We packed the car to the brim with my belongings and set out on the open road.
For anyone with the means to do so, I highly recommend a cross-country road trip; it’s one of the most incredible experiences. I’ve spent most of my life on the east coast and as a result, I remained a stranger to much of the United States. This trip served as my formal introduction to the rest of the country. The hours on the road also gave me time to think hard about my transition into volunteer service.
Things began quickly at GCH. After meeting all the staff, I had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects across all departments. One of my best memories occurred during a volunteer Saturday. I was placed with a team of eight volunteers to sort medical supplies for a container that was being distributed the following week. One of the women on my team was very interested in how I ended up working for GCH. When I told her that I moved from the east coast, she wanted to know what motivated me to do so. She asked me what I like about the work and what I want to do in the future. As I thought about her questions, my perspective changed. While my time with GCH was limited to a year, the lessons I learn will last a lifetime. My professional path was gaining new shape and I began to realize the grace of working on behalf of the underserved.
After 10 months, I can say with confidence that this organization’s biggest asset is its people. Everyone here truly cares about their work and, even more so, they want to make a difference in the lives of others. I’ve been given the opportunity to coordinate a holiday gift program for more than 1,000 needy children, sort medical supplies with volunteers, and form civic relationships with the community.
My time here at GCH allowed me to experience a true sense of service, which has impacted the trajectory of my life, both professionally and philosophically.
The people here are dedicated and work tirelessly behind the scenes to enhance the livelihood of those most desperate. It’s an amazing thing to see and experience.
Thank you, Giving Children Hope for such a great year!
**Special guest blog was contributed by Ben Hansen. Ben has been with Giving Children Hope for ten months, serving with AmeriCorps. At the end of his year-long commitment, Ben will pursue a Master’s Degree at Columbia University in New York. Thank you Ben for your service to GCH.**
