The Lingering Volunteer Experience
When you volunteer for an organization, you may have some expectations for your experience. Maybe you’re looking for service hours for your school organization, professional development for your future career, or maybe you’re recently retired looking for a way to give back. No matter your expectation, what many people don’t anticipate is how the experience will affect them personally.
How do you feel after you know you’ve helped someone navigate a challenge? How do you feel after you know you’ve helped save a life? Typically, pretty good. The feel good chemicals, endorphins, in our brains are on rapid fire when we are helping someone else and it makes us feel amazing!
When we feel like we’re contributing to a cause greater than ourselves, it not only creates a positive impact on the community, but also cultivates a deep sense of purpose within ourselves. As you witness the tangible difference you’re making, no matter how small, it generates a genuine satisfaction that lingers long after the volunteer work is done.
To bring this experience to life, we’d love to introduce you to Nick Meyer, a Pause volunteer with a similar experience. Nick not only volunteers at our larger respite and Family Fun events, but also our weekly Unlimited program in partnership with Center Pointe Christian Church. Nick has been a part of Center Pointe since he was a child and through high school. He enjoys art, music, reading, and spending time with the Lord! He currently works at Clyborne in Mason, and loves it there! Nick shared, “God has given me so many opportunities to talk about Him to strangers which is what I love about it!” In his free time, Nick enjoys creating artwork, whether through music, pencil, pen, or by paintbrush and playing video games!
Why did you choose to volunteer with Pause?
What I really feel the Lord is calling me to do is worship Him through service. I love helping out on Sunday mornings at Pause. It just feels so natural to me. Especially because those very rooms were where I basically grew up. And recently, I have started volunteering with feeding the homeless down in Cincinnati, through Bridge the Gap Ministries. I feel like the reason I thrive through Pause is because, I myself, have struggled all of my life with intense mental battles that these kiddos face. Always being the unintentional center of attention and getting in trouble for just being me. Not understanding why I was different and getting into trouble. Most importantly not having the adults in my life having the tools at their disposal to know how to handle my big emotions or my energy. Until recently, I didn’t understand why I couldn't control my emotions like my friends could or why things that aren't a big deal to other people bother me the most. The reason I keep coming back to Pause is because I am learning so much, not only about how to help and care for these kids, but to help and care for myself. I get the opportunity to be that source of light in an awfully confusing and scary world for these kids. And allow them to express themselves in a safe and loving environment.
What is your favorite part about volunteering with Pause?
My favorite part about Pause is how much the staff truly care about these kids. They go above and beyond for each individual kiddo and it's so incredible. I also love, love, LOVE the Backyard space, it's such an overlooked aspect of what kids need, to let out energy. That's the whole purpose of recess at school. It helps regulate emotions and is a safe place to let those emotions out when it wouldn't be appropriate to do so in a classroom setting. My absolute favorite part of Pause are the events. The kids get to have so much fun and exposure to like-minded groups of people, but it’s such a huge benefit to the parents. It allows these “super” parents to do things that they need or want to do, that they don’t get the time to do. I love hearing how much stuff around the house they’re able to get done that has been a need for so long. These kids are incredible, but their parents are such resilient fighters that love their kids so much. Being that source of rest for them is everything.
Do you feel like you're making an impact?
There have been so many occasions one of our kiddos will run up and hug me out of nowhere. I love making positive connections with them and their parents. One of the biggest impacts I've made has definitely been when I was “Affirmation Elf” at our Holiday Shoppe event. I walked around writing encouraging stickers about the kids; “You Rock!”, “Biggest Smile!”, “Best Sweater!”, etc. I made hundreds of stickers that night trying to make them unique and directly pertaining to the kid.The best part is that little moment is huge for them and the kids remember those stickers. A few kids have come up to me with such a big smile and ask, “Were you the one that told me I had the Best Sweater?” That right there is why I do what I do. The little things mean so much to these kids and the Lord has given me so much passion and love to pour out to them and their families!
Nick - you are TRULY a light in the lives of our Pause kiddos. Your energy is inspiring, your gifts are encouraging and your heart is golden. We are happy to share that Nick will be joining our team as an intern this Spring! Thank you for choosing Pause and thank you for continuing to spread love and kindness in our community.
This is CAN DO. This is COMMUNITY. This is YOUR SUPPORT.
