Pause Volunteers for the Win!
Some kiddos with special needs have limited opportunities to connect with safe adults outside their families. Clubs and organizations outside of school aren’t always accessible or curate felt safety for kids who are often misunderstood. Sometimes caregivers fear that other adults won’t be able to handle the big emotions that may come up or that there may be physical or communicative limitations that make it difficult. Dropping kids off at Pause events is different. Why? Hands down because of our volunteers.
Our volunteers always offer an extravagant welcome to every family who comes to Pause. We, and they, want our families to know their kids are safe, will be loved and will even have opportunities to practice growing resilience while they are in our care as those skills are infused in the fun. Our volunteers lean into relationships with kindness and curiosity and, as they continue to show up to serve, kiddos start to learn their name and look forward to seeing them at each event. While this in itself is awesome, studies show that every child who has another safe adult in their lives has better outcomes and less risky behavior as they move through their teens and young adult stages of life.
A rockstar volunteer who has been with us for two full programming years knows all about this! Meet Destiny! She’s a student at Miami University studying kinesiology with a minor in disability studies. Destiny has been volunteering with Pause since the Fall of 2021 and has volunteered at over 15 events! That means 15 opportunities to build connections and relationships with our Pause kiddos! Destiny’s fun fact - she’s often found with a book and LOVES to read in her free time!
Why did you choose to volunteer with Pause?
"I come from a big family so I’m used to being around kids and I missed that being in college. My professor told me about Pause and the rest is history."
Why do you continue to volunteer with Pause and what’s your favorite part?
"I love the kids! They are so cool and I enjoy watching them grow and connect with me and each other. My favorite part is seeing the kid’s personality develop. Sometimes it’s during that event, others it’s over a period of months where you just watch them grow and become stronger and individualized."
Do you find any challenges volunteering with Pause?
"Probably working with kiddos that are shy. I love it though! The super verbal kids have no problem expressing themselves. But the shy kiddos, it takes a lot of watching body language and repeating the question in a different manner to get them to open up and understand."
Do you feel like you're making an impact?
"Yes, I think I am because the kids remember me and sometimes they don’t want to go home. To me, this means I was doing a good job."
Pause Volunteer Coordinator, Emily Denlinger, shares, “Although Destiny has been volunteering with Pause since the fall of 2021, I personally met her when I joined Pause staff this past summer at one of our first Parent’s Day Out events. Right away I loved her energy and charisma! Destiny is full of life and so fun, which makes her an amazing Pause Volunteer. She is willing to jump in whenever we need her and fill whatever holes we may have at an event. When I see her name on the event registration it always brings a smile to my face because I simply love just getting to see her and I know that she will make an impact on whatever kids are in her small group or her 1:1 buddy. She loves our kids well and since she has been around for about two years now, she has great connections with them. When I am asked to name some of our key volunteers, her name is always in the mix! I am so glad she is a part of our volunteer team and Pause community. Volunteers like Destiny are what make my job great!”
Destiny - thank you SO much for all the love and joy you bring to our kiddos! We are truly blessed to have you as a volunteer! You’re changing lives!
This is CAN DO. This is COMMUNITY. This is YOUR SUPPORT.
