Carly has been volunteering in childcare at THP since 2010, during which time she has been a calming, fun-loving presence in the children’s lives. She is equally at home playing on the floor with toddlers, and having a serious conversation with one of our teens. She has also taken time out of her weekends to take family portraits for the families, many of which haven’t ever had one before. Thanks to Carly for being so reliable, and for bringing such warmth to THP childcare!
What
do you do as a volunteer at New Beginnings and what do you like most?
Primarily I work as a childcare
volunteer at the Transitional Housing Program.
Occasionally I also take family portraits for the residents at THP.
The best part of volunteering
has been simple, but it is being in the moment with the children. I frequently spend time with children outside
of New Beginnings, but when I volunteer, I don’t have an agenda other than
being present and enjoying the lively, inspirational young people.
When I take family portraits,
it is often a great moment when I am able to give the prints back to the
families and watch their faces light up, especially the children, in their
recognition of themselves. I’m grateful
that I have the ability to give the families a small gift that they may keep
for years to come. It is also a gift
that they may not be able to do for themselves.
What’s
the most interesting thing you’ve seen at your volunteer site?
I can’t think of an interesting
occurrence off hand, but I have felt grateful to witness children experiencing
their feelings. When I have seen
children upset for various reasons, for at least a brief moment I was able to
acknowledge their emotions and normalize their experience. Feelings are not
always safe to express in domestic violence environments.
What
do you do when you’re not volunteering?
When I’m not volunteering, I
work as an Art Therapist, and Marriage and Family Therapist. I’m currently back in school to further my
ability to help people through different healing modalities. Other than that, I enjoy attending UW football
and basketball games, going to musicals, and traveling. I also engage in art-making and practice
yoga.
What
do you know now about domestic violence that you didn’t know when you first
started volunteering?
Domestic violence can be an
insidious and disorienting process.
Although intellectually I have a grasp of the patterns and signs of
domestic violence, it can look different depending on the individuals or
families it is affecting. Therefore
being exposed to families who have been through domestic violence is
continually a learning experience.
What’s
the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Honestly, I can’t think of a
piece of advice that significantly stands out enough for me to pinpoint
it. However the word I keep with me is
“faith.” That word could be applicable
in many contexts, but typically I believe that remembering faith is believing that
things will work themselves out, and that in time, we will be guided on the
path that was made for us. For example,
when I did the volunteer training at New Beginnings I wasn’t even planning on
volunteering (I was taking the training to supplement my internship). Nonetheless three years later I’m still
thankfully involved with New Beginnings.
