Adrienne Taylor joined the SCAN Board of Young Professionals over 6 years ago. Her grace, experience, and positivity have made SCAN and the BYP stronger! She’s always willing to jump in to help out on a project, share SCAN’s work with someone new, and her organizational skills have helped ensure SCAN can reach over 300 children through our holiday shop each holiday season.
How did you first get involved with SCAN?
I’ve known about SCAN since it began in the early 90s. They saw a need in our community and set about to provide help to children and families. The Progressive Dinner is well known and many of us see blue pinwheels around town each April. SCAN does great work at other points in the year as well. Holiday Shop (formerly known as Santa Shop) being one of them. The Lower School girls at St. Catherine’s, where I work, have chosen to support for many years. It’s a favorite service project! Many years ago, is where I really started to get involved. I helped with the toy collection and delivery to SCAN. That led me to join the Board of Young Professionals, where I have now been serving for many years.
What inspires you to stay involved with SCAN?
I really enjoy SCAN’s mission. Their goal is to enhance the lives of children by promoting positive parenting, strengthening families and creating a community that values and cares for its children. Simple things that we aren’t all guaranteed but can make a world of difference. My small part can help and that’s why I stay involved.
Is there anything you wish other people knew about SCAN?
Stop Child Abuse Now is an impactful name, but it doesn’t do justice to all the programs and offerings under SCAN’s umbrella. I wish people understood so many of the families who use SCAN are looking for resources and support to be the best parents they can be. The Family Support Program, Community Programs, The Circle Preschool, Richmond CASA and the Child Advocacy Center are all programs SCAN runs to help children and families in our community.
What has been the best experience with SCAN so far?
Can I say how much I LOVE SCAN’s Holiday Shop?! It puts you in the spirit of the holiday season. We create a shop from donated toys and gift cards. Volunteers can interact with parents and help them pick out the perfect gift. You get to meet first-hand the people who SCAN supports. It takes what could be a stressful time for parents and makes it fun and festive. Plus, we are ensuring all the children in our community have something to unwrap during the holiday season.
What are any challenges you have faced in your work with SCAN?
Often a BYP meeting includes hearing a testimonial from someone using SCAN’s services. It makes you understand how our efforts really are impacting those in our community. Sometimes the experiences are hard to listen to. It brings the focus to the individual and can reinvigorate your motivation on helping SCAN support a community that cares and values it’s children and families.
Do you have any goals or hopes for the next year?
Let’s have another successful year educating the Richmond area about the services SCAN provides to our community and bringing in the resources SCAN needs to keep doing this work. If I can familiarize just one more person with SCAN’s efforts and get them involved, then I will consider it a success.
Are you involved with any other community organizations, hobbies, or activities?
SCAN is the community organization I focus the most on, but I am involved with my college. Shout out to the other local Hamilton College grads. We aren’t a big group, but we are a proud group. Otherwise, I am focused on family and enjoying our time together.
What might someone be surprised to learn about you?
Surprised?! This is where I wish I had some secret talent I could dazzle folks with. I guess the other thing that comes to mind is my feelings about Christmas gifts. I have run the wrapping room for a few past Holiday Shops and am very proud of the volunteers who wrap each and every gift. Christmas gifts should be wrapped. That is part of the fun for kids in the holiday season – ripping open those packages. Opening a gift bag just does not have the same effect. So, knowing that please think about supporting our Holiday Shop. Help us ensure kids get to rip open packages and enjoy the joy of the holiday season.
