Michelle has volunteered with Help At Your Door for three and a half years. She was a great fit for our volunteer team because of her passion for helping others, especially older adults in need. Michelle explains, “I always felt that our seniors have so much to offer. They have a lifetime of experiences to share. And I’ve often found that they want to pass their stories and knowledge on to others.”
Michelle’s experience with her aging parents gave her insight into the importance of our work. She explains, “Help At Your Door provides such a great service to our community with a mission of helping seniors and individuals with disabilities maintain their independence. I began volunteering after caregiving for my mother and father; they both wanted to remain in their homes while battling cancer. The comfort they felt at home was critical to their journey.”
At our organization, Michelle volunteers as a Client Connector. In this role, Michelle has specific clients assigned to her that she contacts by telephone to take their grocery orders through an online ordering system. When requested grocery items are no longer in stock, she offers alternatives and ensures the accuracy of the order by reading the order back to the client. This service is especially valuable for clients who do not have access to a computer or the Internet.
Michelle works with four clients regularly and donates, on average, about an hour and a half of her time each week. She shares, “This role allows me to connect with my clients personally and fulfill a need in our community. I like to get to know them, their families, and their stories. They are all so special in their own way.”
When asked what she would say to someone who is interested in volunteering with Help At Your Door, Michelle replied, “I cannot put into words the personal fulfillment I receive from my clients each week. I look forward to talking with them. It’s a joy to know that you’re helping others and, at the same time, creating personal relationships.”
Thank you, Michelle, for your service! We are so grateful to have you as part of our volunteer team!
Want to give back to your community through Help At Your Door? For information about specific roles, read our volunteer webpage or contact us: 651-642-1892 | volunteer@helpatyourdoor.org. We also offer group volunteer activities!