Volunteer Spotlight: Paula

Posted April 24, 2017

Volunteer Spotlight: Paula

Meet Paula, an active volunteer who has been mentoring one of the young women at The Settlement Home for over a year. We love what Paula has to say about her time with her mentee and her inspirations!

SH: What brought you to The Settlement Home?
PT: My church encourages us to serve in the community and have an option to help organizations listed on justserve.org.

SH: Why is volunteering important to you?
PT: Helping each other makes us better people and makes the world a better place.

SH: What’s your favorite part of being a volunteer?
PT: I love watching the faces of children (and people) light up, smile, and know they are important.

SH: What kinds of activities do you plan with your mentee?
PT: We have gone to the Christmas Tree farm and played at the track area at a nearby high school. We have gone to a Christmas concert; the Gingerbread village at Four Seasons; had a water balloon fight and slip and slide at the park;  we visit Greengate Farms and we work and play in my backyard micro farm. Now that we have both proven ourselves, she can visit my home. In my home, she helps prepare meals and clean them up. If I have things I need to do at home, she reads to me from the internet about things that interest her. Mostly at visits we talk, laugh, encourage and enjoy each other’s company.

SH: What advice do you have for other volunteers?
PT: Every step for approval for privileges in the volunteer process takes time. Be patient and positive.

SH: What is your favorite quote?
PT: “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow! What a Ride!'”
– Hunter S. Thompson (20th century American journalist & author)

SH: What inspires you?
PT: Being actively engaged in living life and the inspiration and direction I receive from the Holy Ghost inspires me. Time spent with children invigorates me.