Meet Vicky!
Many nonprofits lean on volunteers to serve their communities. Just as The Red Cross relies on volunteers to donate blood or Habitat for Humanity relies on volunteers to build homes, Pause relies on volunteers to serve families with differing needs. Pause currently serves 526 kids (and growing!) and with a staff of 8, we simply couldn’t do it alone. Our Pause volunteers have huge hearts and truly want to make a difference in the lives of young people.
We want to introduce you to an absolute ROCKSTAR Pause Unlimited small group leader, Vicky Suttmiller! Unlimited brings the flexibility of having accommodations and individualized learning to Sunday morning to provide neurodiverse children a safe space to learn. Vicky has been committed to serving with Pause all year to give our kiddos a safe, reliable and consistent volunteer! This is so important!
Here’s one of Vicky’s favorite customers at Skyline - George. He loves his visits with Ms. Vicky!
Vicky is a mama of 4 kiddos. She has worked at Skyline for almost 30 years and LOVES interacting with customers and building relationships with them! She loves sports and even played soccer and ran track herself! Vicky’s family is super important to her and she spends time with them any chance she can get!
We weren’t shocked to find out that Vicky loves to build relationships with people, because it’s a priority of hers with our Pause Unlimited kiddos every Sunday morning! We asked Vicky to share more about her experience with Pause, here’s what she said!
Why did you choose to volunteer with Pause?
“I chose to work with Pause because I’ve had a special place in my heart for special needs kids. I worked at Mason as a teacher’s aid for 7 years working 1 on 1 with students and loved the work. I was also looking for a place to serve at church where I could serve every week - not one week a month or every other month. I like being able to connect with the kids and get to know them.”
Why do you continue to volunteer with Pause?
“Because I love the kids and the environment!”
Why is it important for you to serve with Pause every month?
“It allows me to know the kids better and understand them more. It also gives me time to develop trust with the kids so they know they are safe with me.”
What is your favorite part about volunteering with Pause?
“My favorite thing about serving in Pause is the feeling of trust and acceptance I feel with the kids. By being patient and understanding and being sensitive to their needs I can share the love of Jesus with them. And the excitement I see each week when they come into church makes me feel good and excited to be here!”
Have you overcome any challenges while volunteering?
I think we all overcome challenges daily in our lives whether it is at work or home with our own children. It’s part of being flexible and adaptable.
Do you feel like you're making an impact?
Yes I believe I’ve created a safe environment where the kids feel accepted and loved. And they learn about Jesus.
Vicky - your offer to continue leading your small group this summer to give “your kids” consistency is truly inspiring. You are making a lasting imprint on these children and our gratitude is immeasurable!
Interested in volunteering with Unlimited this summer? Reach out to Sara.Porter@pauseforparents.org for details! Shameless plug: if you serve with Unlimited THREE times this summer you get a FREE t-shirt! Come see what all the hype is about!
This is CAN DO. This is COMMUNITY. This is YOUR SUPPORT.
