Happy Volunteer Appreciation Month!

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” -Rabindranath Tagore 

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we’re taking a special moment to extend our deepest gratitude to our many volunteers who help catalyze the life-changing work that happens every day at CWEE. These incredible individuals are more than just volunteers: they are partners in what’s possible for participants and their families. They are deep wells of hope and belief that opportunities are within reach. They are advocates and champions for hundreds of families each year.  

From wrapping gifts at Winter Wonderland and sorting clothes in the boutique, to helping our participants prepare for their job search with resume reviews and mock interviews, our volunteers serve our participants with joy, dedication and excitement all year long! This commitment to and care for our participants has allowed us to accomplish so much over these last few months! Here is a snapshot of just a few of the amazing things our volunteers have helped make possible:  

  • 1,543 gifts distributed at Winter Wonderland 
  • More than 30 volunteers spent over 75 hours completing mock interviews and resume reviews with CWEE participants 
  • Over 1,000 items of clothing sorted in the boutique 

Our inspiring volunteers have many reasons for choosing to support CWEE families and programs. Susan Hill has been volunteering with CWEE for 10 years. In that time, she has been a tutor in the GED classroom, a mock interviewer and a board member.  Susan says “Through all of the changes and challenges of this time, the one constant is that CWEE gives me hope.  CWEE’s participants, staff and board members are all contributing to the dream of transforming lives.  CWEE’s wonderful staff is focused on helping participants develop the skills and resources they need to succeed in the workplace. I’ve heard lots of heartfelt stories about how CWEE helped graduates create new lives for themselves and their families. And that’s where the sense of hope – even in dark times – comes from. I love being part of an organization that makes a real and lasting impact on families and on our community.” 

For Colleen Fitzpatrick, volunteering with CWEE is about giving our participants the same support in launching an amazing career that she has been fortunate to receive herself.  

Colleen says “Volunteering at CWEE means supporting career-seekers as they overcome barriers to employment. There is a common trope that folks need to “get a job,” but that sentiment neglects to recognize the dozens of barriers to doing so. CWEE goes far beyond tropes to help each participant find and maintain a fulfilling career, and I’m proud to be a small part of that. Throughout my life, I’ve received significant support to achieve my career goals. Through volunteering at CWEE, I’m able to share the support that was given to me.” 

Whether you’ve volunteered with CWEE for years or are looking to get started, we are excited to invite you to join us for CWEE Serves Day! Later this month, we will be gathering staff, board members, volunteers and friends to complete service projects benefiting CWEE participants. We will have various volunteer opportunities, such as working in our professional clothing boutique or our resource room, both of which are essential for our participants’ success. If you’re interested in joining us on April 25, you can get in touch with our volunteer coordinator, Muzen, by sending her an email at mahmed@cwee.org 

And don’t forget to sign up for our volunteer newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming opportunities and ways to get involved! You can sign up for the newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/YrZYlVV  

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