Today, we get to share about our friend, Erin, who’s been volunteering with us since 2021. Erin connected with New Visions through Leadership Council Bluffs and has been a strong volunteer and advocate for us ever since! As a mortgage lender with Guild Mortgage, Erin brings a unique perspective on working with the houseless population. “Part of what I love about my job is seeing the joy of home ownership and how it helps to build communities,” says Erin, “I know that not everyone has this opportunity and I’m so glad that New Visions can still give people that sense of joy and community as they work towards being housed.”
Erin has served New Visions in a variety of ways, primarily around our annual Holiday Event. She and her two kids jumped right in to serving with this event back in 2021, and her engagement has increased over the years to now being one of our key volunteer leaders for the event. Erin hasn’t just kept the joy of volunteering within her own family, either. Erin has single-handedly brought nearly 20 other individuals into volunteering with us through her employer as well as through other clubs and groups that she’s a part of. Erin’s own volunteering as well as her influence on others has translated into literally hundreds of hours of volunteer support over the past few years. “Volunteering truly fills my bucket,” she says, “and I want other people to experience that too.”
Some of Erin’s favorite volunteer memories are those she’s built with her kids. This past year, she and her daughter, Piper, had the chance to lead our Navigator team at our Holiday Event. “To see my daughter just loving those kids for the few minutes that they are coming through the event was so special,” said Erin, “and it made me realize that by volunteering, she is growing to have a heart for serving others.” Another favorite memory harkens back to our years of hosting a drive-through/outdoor event. Erin’s son, Eli, was helping to hand out hams and turkeys to all of the participants. After being out in the cold for several hours, Erin vividly recalls Eli telling her that his toes were cold, but his heart was warm. “I realized this is what it’s all about,” says Erin, “helping my kids understand that they might be uncomfortable for a little while, but it’s all worth it to help the community.”
Comments