Volunteer Spotlight
Akshaya and Koren
"I'm glad to be part of this tight-knit community at Ballard House and contribute to its amazing work every week. I have been a night owl volunteer for about a year, and it has been nothing short of a fun and fulfilling experience. After graduating from college, I was looking for a volunteering experience that I could commit to regularly to give back to the community, and I found just that at the Ballard House.
Being able to show up every week, help with the dinner layouts, check new guests in, and do the nightly checks, has allowed me to contribute to the day-to-day activities of the house. I have also had the pleasure of participating in many special events - executing a birthday surprise, preparing for fundraisers, celebrating milestones, and many more. The chats I have had with guests after their long day have really shown me how much this place and community means to everyone - it is truly a home away from home!"
-Akshaya
"I really didn’t know much about The Ballard House until one Christmas my subdivision took some gifts to the guests at TBH. I went with the group to deliver the gifts. It was such a beautiful place, and everyone was so appreciative of what we had brought. I filed that away mentally, and when I retired and was looking for a place to volunteer, I decided to look at TBH online. I liked what I saw, and I filled out an application. In my interview, I remember Naomi telling me that TBH was a “very special place.” When I came to work for the first time, I could tell that Naomi was right. It was indeed a “very special place.” Everyone is so appreciative of the volunteers and the things that they do. The energy is so positive from both the volunteers and the guests. The positivity has a way of rubbing off on everyone, volunteers and guests alike. I have enjoyed the time I’ve spent here and hope that in some small way I’ve contributed positively to the guests’ experience. I think we all try our best to make this a home away from home for our guests."
-Koren
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