Y• I •Volunteer

BY TEPHANIE HOPPER

FAMILY & MWR ARMY VOLUNTEER CORPS

NAME: EMILY WILLIAMS Volunteer Opportunity: 1-1 CAV Senior Advisor & President of the Catholic Women of the Chapel What was your first volunteer opportunity? “My first volunteer opportunity was with the Girl Scouts. I made it through to receive the gold award in girl scouting, which got me started on the idea of service. We would participate in service projects as part of obtaining our badges. While volunteering with Girl Scouts, I made sandwiches for soup kitchens and cleared trails. All through high school and college and into graduate school, I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. I helped build four houses; one even in Guatemala. Habitat for Humanity is an organization that meant a lot to me! It was incredible to feel like you were helping someone to see the direct connection to the work you did and how it helped somebody else.”

What will you tell someone who is on the fence about serving in the community of volunteering?

“The short answer is, you will never regret helping. Last year, during the pandemic, I was teaching my kids full-time, so I was not volunteering much. This year I have a chance to give back, and kids are going to school. I decided to take a little bit of risk and become the President of the Catholic Women of the Chapel. It has a good mission. I am a little nervous, but I believe in their purpose and work, and I want it to succeed. My advice to other people would be, you will never regret helping.”

Her “Y • I • VOLUNTEER!”

“You know I have been blessed in my life, and I can sit here and be happy in my little space. On the other hand, I could share my time, share my talents and help our community; I think that is important. So volunteering is a way that I can feel useful and help others. I can maybe have an impact on somebody else and help him or her.” NAME: CPT XAVIER WASHINGTON

Volunteer Opportunity: El Paso Children’s Hospital

What was your first volunteer opportunity?

“My first volunteer opportunity was Operation Hope, an organization that assists with funeral payments. Operation Hope requested Deadpool, a superhero character that I dressed up as, to go to a child’s funeral. It was a little uncomfortable at first, because I do not just show up to a funeral dressed in a Deadpool costume – but I wanted to fulfill that request. At the funeral, they were passing out Easter baskets, and I was high-fiving the kids. Kids were in wheelchairs, you name it, and the news showed up out there. It was one of the best experiences that I have ever had. It was also one of the most humbling experiences, because I realized that it was a celebration of life even though it was a death.”

What impact has volunteering had on you?

“Volunteering has shown me that it is bigger than I am. Volunteering as Deadpool helping kids with cancer has changed my life; it has made me a better person. It has helped me be more empathetic and sympathetic to people I encounter, because people have different situations they are dealing with, so volunteering helps me be a better me.”

His “Y • I • VOLUNTEER!”

“I was raised by a family that gives back, and it has been instilled in me. It is more of who I am as a person. It's also a tradition imparted to me by my alma mater, Bethune-Cookman University, which uses the acronym Forget About Me, I Love You to encourage others to give back. I also use this acronym as my command philosophy to encourage and remind Soldiers we are a FAMILY and to encourage them to give back. It is what family is about, always trying to help somebody. I want to be remembered as someone who made an impact by giving back by Forgetting About Me; I Love You — FAMILY”

VOLUNTEER

NAME: BETHANY HAMM Volunteer Opportunity: 1-77 SFRG Advisor What was your first volunteer opportunity? “My first volunteer opportunity was at Fort Polk as a Treasurer of the Soldier Family Readiness Group (SFRG). It was a lot of fun, but it was somewhat challenging because the SFRG was nonexistent, which is why another spouse and I volunteered our time to try to build it up. We wanted to bring the Families together and have something to engage in while our spouses were away at JRTC. It was enjoyable getting to know everybody and learning the ropes of it all.”

How has volunteering made a difference in your life?

“Through volunteering, I had the opportunity to share wonderful experiences with some fantastic people, and it taught me a lot about what it takes to run things on the Army side.”

Her “Y • I • VOLUNTEER!”

“My husband is the company commander this time around, and I was excited to work beside him as the SFRG Leader. We have experienced SFRGs in other units and other duty stations, but we get to make it our own this time. We can do our favorite things, but most importantly, we get to help Families, and that is what we enjoy the most!” NAME: CPL JOO Y. CHOI Volunteer Opportunity: Fort Bliss Armed Services YMCA What was your first volunteer opportunity? “My first volunteer opportunity was at the Fort Bliss Armed Forces YMCA. It is a food drive for the hungry within Fort Bliss and El Paso Community. Yes, I enjoy giving back through the Armed Services YMCA because you know you can see when some of the people come in you can tell, they’re not in a good place, and once they leave, you can see the smile of relief on their face. I am glad a program like this exists to give out food in El Paso and to Soldiers. It is a gratifying opportunity to give back, but it is also challenging, especially right now because it’s scorching outside.”

What is your bucket list volunteer opportunity?

“If there were a humanitarian mission, I would do it. I am passionate about the medical side of serving others. However, if I could do those things, like Haiti, I could go there right now to help as a military person, a civilian or any status. I would be there because that has a purpose, and purpose is what drives me.”

His “Y • I • VOLUNTEER!”

“Honestly, it is twofold. I mean, so I am not going to say that I am, you know, purely altruistic. Even though I said, I believe in the purpose of the mission. I volunteer because, ultimately, it helps the community and me. The second reason is that I need volunteer hours; it is one of those catch 22 things, but I continue to volunteer because I see what it is doing to help our community.”

THREE WAYS YOU CAN PARTICIPATE:

1. Share a video or story on social media talking about why you volunteer. Please use the tag #YIVOLUNTEER in your post and tag @FBArmyVolunteerCorps 2. Submit your video to fortblissvolunteer@yahoo.com (under 30 sec). Your story will be featured on the Fort Bliss Army Volunteer Corps social media platforms. Please use the words “YIVOLUNTEER” in your response if you can. 3. Submit a written testimonial and/or a jpeg photo to fortblissvolunteer@ yahoo.com briefly stating why you volunteer. We will similarly use your story on social media or other communications. Please use the words “YIVOLUNTEER …” in your response if possible.

QUESTIONS TO HELP TELL YOUR STORY: Why I Volunteer? Sample answers:

“My why is to give back to the Fort Bliss Community to make a difference in a Soldier’s Life.” “I volunteer to give back and for job experience. That’s my why.” “My why is helping our youth!”

What are three words to describe your volunteer opportunity? If you could say one thing to your fellow volunteers about why they should get involve? FILMING TIPS:

• Try to keep your video under 30 sec. • Begin by introducing yourself (name, where you volunteer, and what you do as volunteer) • If you are filming yourself with your phone, make sure you are holding it in landscape mode (horizontal). • Film yourself in a well-lit room or outside during the day in a quiet spot.

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