Christina is our saving grace
at Shelter! During Monday night house meetings she provides childcare
and/or answers the crisis line when staff are busy facilitating. And she
is a problem solver! When she notices a gap in services she is determined to
find a solution. She is always on the phone with other agencies and providers
asking questions about their services so that we can add that information to
our resource lists for participants. She is warm, thoughtful, and kind – so she
is a delight to work with for
participants and staff alike.
What do you do as a volunteer at New Beginnings? What does a typical shift look like?
I’m
a Women’s Advocate Assistant at the shelter on Monday evenings. I do childcare
so moms can attend the weekly house meeting, answer Helpline calls, take residents
to the clothing closet and food pantry and support residents by providing information
about community resources and a listening ear.
How have you been challenged within your
position?
It
is difficult to have to turn away Helpline callers in need of confidential DV
shelter on nights when the shelter is at capacity. For me, this experience has
really driven home the need for more DV services and shelter beds in our
community. It makes me realize what a vital and lifesaving service New
Beginnings provides.
How did you come to want to volunteer for
New Beginnings?
I
have worked in social services for many years and knew that many clients I
worked with had been touched by domestic violence. Yet I had very little
understanding of intimate partner violence – the resources available, ways to
help support survivors, etc. I was hoping this experience would make me a more
knowledgeable and skilled social worker in terms of recognizing and responding
to DV.
What do you know now about domestic
violence that you didn’t know when you first started volunteering?
I’ve
gained a more nuanced appreciation for just how deeply it can impact every
aspect of a survivor’s life and their children’s lives – being able to maintain
employment, to stay connected with friends and family who the abuser knows, the
kids’ ability to go to school. Being at the shelter, it is also truly apparent
there is no one “typical” survivor profile, that domestic violence impacts
people regardless of age, education level, race, culture, religion, sexual
orientation, gender identity, mental health, and socioeconomic status. I’ve met
survivors from so many different backgrounds.
Is there a quote or sentence that helps
guide you in life?
I
really like how the Dalai Lama stresses the importance of kindness above all
else, “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”
Anything else you’d like to share with
other volunteers?
Initially, I did not realize the incredible flexibility in
possible volunteer shifts and times. Since the shelter is a 24/7 facility, it
can accommodate most schedules. I’ve found volunteering in the evenings to
sometimes have a light-hearted and fun side I did not expect – hanging out with
the residents and their kids as they are donning PJs, checking out movies from
the video library, telling stories and unwinding from the day.
