Please join us as we celebrate the steadfast dedication of hundreds of volunteers who give their time and talent to the Door of Hope community. We couldn’t do it without you!
Below we spotlight four amazing volunteers who, along with hundreds of others, make our mission possible.
Shauna Barger
Spotlight on an Outstanding Volunteer
“Often we set out to make a difference in the lives of others only to discover we have made a difference to our own.” Ellie Braun-Haley
Meal donor, after-school program curriculum creator, Prevention program volunteer, event hostess, and generous donor are all the many hats worn by Shauna. She’s done it all, and she is not done yet! Her journey as a Door of Hope volunteer has led to a new direction in her own life…check out her story.
George Rothwell
Spotlight on a Meal Donor Volunteer
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
For more than 20 years, George Rothwell has been a beloved meal donor, and some families have even asked him to cater their graduations! Even though it has been 15 years since she lived at Los Robles, former resident Wendi Gaines still remembers George fondly and refers to him as the “ideal meal donor.” According to Wendi, “he came in as a friend and what I remember the most was the sit-down dinners just eating with George and sharing my daily life with him.” She continued, “It’s almost as if he wasn’t there because we were homeless…it was like he was just coming to see some friends of his and we just so happened to be having dinner.” Regarding his involvement, George said, “I love cooking and sharing with other people.” In addition, he likes providing meals because ”it is something I can personally do to help with the problem of homelessness.”
In addition, George served on the Door of Hope Board of Directors from 2011 to 2018.
Carina Walker
Spotlight on a “Practice your Profession” Volunteer
“A truly great volunteer is hard to find, difficult to part with, and impossible to forget!” Unknown
Carina’s profession before retirement was starting up internet companies and technology is one of her many strengths. In her desire to give back and make a difference, she has been “practicing her profession” by consulting for Door of Hope since 2017. Carina provides priceless technical support for the Development department’s technological needs, and she trains DOH Pathways interns to use technology., meeting them where they are and equipping them to embrace new skills. Plus, Carina has mentored residents on everything from resume writing, job searching, and apartment hunting. Carina says: “My goal is to teach others how to do it themselves and find ways to streamline and make jobs more efficient and effective.” Carina is a resourceful volunteer and we have grown to rely on her heavily. She goes on to say: “I volunteer a lot of time but I get a lot out of it…Door of Hope has done a great job in figuring out how to use me…it’s been a win-win”.
Kelly Tsao
Spotlight on a Childcare Volunteer
“You are never too young to change the world.” Aman Jain
Kelly Tsao, a sophomore at Flintridge Preparatory School, is passionate about caring for children. Kelly currently serves as the Children’s Advocate Intern, helping with kids’ programming across our four sites. Kelly was selected as an intern due to her willingness to learn and her desire to increase her volunteer commitment. Kelly helps with existing childcare programming, such as babysitting in the evenings when parents are attending classes, and has also taken initiative to plan and spearhead kids’ activities: Kelly recently planned an Egg Drop and a Parachute Hypothesis lab in honor of National Science Day. Kelly was first moved by Door of Hope’s work and mission when she was in second grade at Clairbourn Elementary and participated in a fundraising drive on behalf of Door of Hope. She shares, “I was inspired to see an organization that was providing shelter to homeless families and then, further, helping them move into their own homes.”
THANK YOU to the entire Door of Hope community of volunteers who support us with their time and talent in so many ways. Check out our 2021 Gallery, a collection of photos of volunteers in action who are making a difference behind the scenes every day.
“Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.”
“The brightest stars are those who shine for the benefit of others.”
Want to get involved? Whether you want to Connect, Celebrate, Empower or Support our families, we have an opportunity for you. If you’re a little curious about how your time or talent could meet a need in this important work, please click the button below which will walk you through the many ways to get involved.