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June 12, 2014Shalom
July 11, 2014We’re happy to share a guest blog from one of our volunteers, Claudia. Claudia has been helping with the youth shelter for more than a year, and shared with us a little about why she volunteers:
Fairbanks Youth Advocates and The Door fulfills my ambition to remain busy in my retirement, and to offer my time to worthwhile causes. When plans for the youth shelter began to come to fruition, I felt a strong draw to help with a service that was definitely lacking in our community. I knew I couldn’t survive working long or late night hours, but I knew I should be able to help in some way.
I was impressed with the First Presbyterian Church and their willingness to help Fairbanks Youth Advocates provide shelter for the teens immediately – not waiting until the actual building was constructed.
I felt that I too could contribute. I’ve enjoyed every single volunteering opportunity I’ve had with the shelter program. The staff are chosen and trained very well, and gave me great role modeling on how to interact with sometimes helpless teens in need of shelter.
What an inspiration these staff have been! I am encouraged at each shift I work. Encouraged to contribute, encouraged to give of myself, encouraged to continue… all in hopes that I can make a little difference in the life of these teens. Maybe not directly, but in how I work, help, laugh, talk, or encourage them. I feel bad when a youth leaves and I never see them again, but I know that they have felt loved and cared for at The Door, and I can always keep those youth in my prayers.
My proudest moment has been in encouraging my husband to take on the volunteer job of Maintenance Man for The Door. Encouraging him to realize what an important role this shelter has in our community, encouraging him to use his expertise for others who need it. He gets frustrated that he can’t do everything that’s needed, but he feels good about the facility and it’s purpose, and he loves his interaction with all the staff. 
My time and that of my husband at the shelter has included cleaning, sorting, planting flowers, repairing locks, scrubbing floors, cooking, emptying garbage, and most of all, being a positive presence for the teens… not judging, not discouraging, not looking down upon them, BUT encouraging them, being human, accepting, listening, and cherishing them and this wonderful facility and it’s goals!
I hope that the flow of volunteers will continue as the awareness of this vital service spreads.
The job is not hard, sometimes it is busy, but listening, laughing, caring, and keeping food coming and floors clean is something anyone can do.
