When I was a child, we did...
When I was a child, we did a lot of group-oriented things. We lived in an integrated neighborhood here in San Diego, and we did group activities to get along. We would find something to get everyone involved and keep everyone interested. We would all sit around in a group and plan what we were going to do, whether it be roller skating, wearing blue T-shirts or whatever.
I’ve been involved in volunteer work since my son and daughter were children. My son was in Little League, the Boys Club, and later on, in Pop Warner. My daughter was involved in ballet training and was in the Girls Club. When you have children involved with organizations, before you know it, you’re involved.
I got involved with Children’s Home Society around 23 years ago when one of the ladies with the group came by my job. Before I knew it, I was involved. In my first year, I helped out by ushering at the Ebony Fashion Show, which is our biggest fund-raiser for CHS. I remember that very well because we had over 1,500 people there. By the end of the night, my feet hurt because I didn’t have comfortable shoes on. We did a lot of walking and standing during the show, but we raised a lot of money for CHS.
Since then, I have held every office in Las Munecas, and I’ve been president twice. I chaired the Ebony Fashion Show one year. I’m currently working with a committee in preparation of this year’s Ebony Fashion Fair.
Most of my work is behind the scenes. I can’t work in the day care centers, even though I’d like to, because of my day job, so I contribute through fund raising. It makes me feel just as good because I’m able to start an idea, watch it grow and see it blossom into the final product.
Sometimes I wonder where I’m going to find the time to do all these things. Sometimes I take my lunchtime to do some of the volunteer work. You do put in a lot of time, but then I’m not a person who will just be a member on the books. But what’s more amazing to me is, when I find I do have a little extra time, I look around and think I’m lost and that I’ve forgotten to do something.
Everything we do benefits the children. That’s what this is all about. In the early ‘80s, we were instrumental in the Children’s Home Society buying a home and placing unwed mothers in that home. They put a social worker in the home. There they prepped them, taught them how to take care of babies. Rather than see these girls wandering the streets, we thought it was a good idea to take these girls in and take care of them. Unfortunately, the budget forced them to sell the house in 1985. We were very hurt when they sold it.
Last December, we did crafts for the kids to make for the annual CHS Christmas party for the children. We made ornaments using pine cones, and the kids put the little rhinestones on the ornaments. It took a lot of time to prepare for this. I had glitter all over my tables, and I was walking on the beads at home, and to see the smiles on their faces just makes me feel good.
My work is like therapy. It allows me to help someone else. Until we are able to find homes for all the children in CHS, they are homeless. My work gives me a chance to help children and bring some joy into their lives until they are adopted. It makes me feel good when people see the final results of what we’ve done and they say to me, I’d like to get involved. Please give me a call. Next time you have something going, I want to be involved.
