April is National Volunteer Month How a volunteer opportunity changed lives After Kat Renfroe's husband served with the military in Afghanistan, she became curious about the land and its people. Five years ago, Kat saw in her parish bulletin an opportunity to volunteer with Catholic Charities by tutoring Afghan refugees. Her decision, she said, “literally changed my life.” She was assigned to tutor a teenage boy who had recently arrived from Afghanistan and was just starting high school. When she arrived at the boy’s home, his six sisters were eagerly waiting to welcome her, too. The experience widened her world. The sessions include English, math, and cultural literacy – teaching about American customs and freedoms. The family shared with Renfroe their Muslim faith and their cultural and religious traditions. Renfroe shared her rosary and showed them her beautiful church, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Fredericksburg.

Since she began tutoring the family, three have graduated from high school and are now attending college. “It was an opportunity to make a life-long impact on someone’s life and the answer to many prayers in a way that I could never have expected," Renfroe said. “My faith has grown as has my heart. I never imagined a Muslim family from Afghanistan would bring me so much closer to God. I pray every day that others will discover the beauty and reward experienced through volunteerism as it is a means toward sharing the ‘strength of the church’ as Pope Francis has stated.” The volunteer opportunity led Renfroe back into the workforce. As a Lead Youth Support Specialist with Catholic Charities, she now recruits and encourages others to join in these life-changing volunteer opportunities.

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Kids Feeding Kids Girl Scout Troop's Feed My Lambs ministry ensures vulnerable kids get weekend meals In October 2015, Keli Fisher, Catholic mother of three, walked into Catholic Charities St. Lucy Food warehouse ready to give back by volunteering. She quickly engaged family and friends to help her unload food donations and collect produce at local farmer’s markets. As the leader of her daughter’s Signal Hill Girl Scout Troop, she enlisted the group to organize a food drive at their school for a weekend meal program serving hungry children in Manassas called Feed My Lambs. The group has packed meals, twice a month, for the last eight years. Currently they pack 200 meals each month to feed elementary school-aged children. Keli helped form not only her children’s hearts and minds through service, but others’ as well. “Hearing stories about the children receiving food packs has resonated with me and made me understand why the mission is so important,” said troop mate Jenna Warner. “I've also learned how gratifying it is to do service work, and teaching others how to help as well.” “Helping for two hours a week can truly make a difference,” said Keli’s daughter Shannon.

The Girl Scouts who began this project years back now are graduating from high school. Keli is passing the project on to a local American Heritage Girls troop from Holy Trinity Catholic Church and Seton School. “We are called to serve and use the time and gifts God has given us for the service of others,” Kelli said. “People, in general, want to help but don’t know how to do it and need guidance in knowing where to seek out those opportunities.” To volunteer, contact Maria Rodriguez, Volunteer Coordinator at the St. Lucy warehouse.

You can Bring Love by Volunteering with Catholic Charities. Click here for all volunteer opportunities. Urgent Volunteer Needs: Volunteer Interpreters, Catholic Charities Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinic. Act as a liaison between Spanish-speaking patients and their medical provider. These volunteers can interpret either in person or virtually. Email [email protected] or call (703) 335-2779. MYVA program volunteers, Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services. Work with clients between 15 and 24 years of age on school and civic-minded projects more intensively, building a personal relationship while helping refugees achieve their goals! Sign up here or email [email protected] VA Refugee Student Achievement Project, Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services. Volunteers orient and enroll new families to their local schools; assist with paperwork, monitor progress and maintain communication, working with refugee parents to play an active role in their children’s education. Click here for information. Activities/Games Assistants, Kitchen Helpers and more, Catholic Charities St. Martin de Porres Senior Center, Alexandria. Provide activities for high functioning and independent seniors. Click here for information.

Volunteers Welcoming Refugees

"It represents not only the best of our Church, but the best of America." - Stephen Carattini President and CEO, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington

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