SERVICE
Volunteer Class of 2011 Sarah Smith
Elderly Services & Volunteer Groups
Kelsey Owsley Housing Program
Jimmy Owsley Elderly Housing
Julianna O’Brien Family Advocacy & Camp AJ
Erin Cusick Camp AJ
It is not unusual for long-term volunteers to find a permanent home at CAP as employees after their time of service has ended. The organization has always been strengthened by the significant number of volunteer alumni within CAP’s permanent workforce. Five graduates of the Volunteer Program’s 2011 class currently work for CAP full-time. These former volunteers offered to share reflections on their service experience, the Volunteer Program, the transition to permanent staff positions, and more. What led you to become a volunteer at CAP? Erin: I graduated from college with degrees in English and Psychology – not degrees you can do a lot with unless you go to grad school. I decided to do a year of service because I wasn’t ready to go back to school, and I wanted to do something meaningful while I figured out my next step. I ultimately decided on CAP because I had been to Appalachia on a college service trip and I loved the people here and the feel of the place. I wanted to work with kids, and CAP’s summer camp and in-school program sounded like a great fit. When I came down for my interview, I felt such a sense of calm and peace that I knew I had found the right volunteer program. Kelsey: I’ve been involved with mission work and service my whole life – I grew up in a very service-oriented church in New Jersey. When I was a senior in college in 2011, I went on a service/mission trip to Nicaragua. Something just clicked with me on that trip and I felt called to devote a year to service after I graduated. 12
THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT | SPRING/SUMMER 2016
At the time had no idea what that would look like. As graduation approached, I did some research into different organizations that offered long-term positions for volunteers. I found CAP in the annual RESPONSE book that is published by Catholic Volunteer Network. From the moment I started the interview process with Kathy Kluesener, I felt at home and knew that CAP was the right fit for me. Sarah: Throughout college, studying Psychology and Sociocultural Studies, all I wanted was to be able to serve and actually help people. After college, I was brainstorming with a friend about what to do next. Niether of us were quite ready to enter into the “real world”. She found CAP online, and I took interest in it. I already had a love for the region through the two summer mission trips to Beattyville, Ky., with my church’s youth group. After learning that at CAP I could serve with the Elderly Program, I knew this was my next step.
