Volunteer

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Since 2022, I have had the honor of cuddling and soothing 65 delicate babies in the NICU, some as small as three pounds and many experiencing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (drug use during gestation). The experience cannot be overstated; a premature baby receives the incredible benefits of being held, soothed, fed, spoken to, read to, sang to and cared for by a warm human. In return, I revel in the full sensory experience of being with a tiny human. Additionally, cuddlers perform support tasks (laundry, inventory etc.) that keep the unit functioning smoothly, allowing nurses and care providers to focus attention on patients and families. I hope to continue my weekly “cuddling” role for many years to come. Some volunteers have reached 20 years!  

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer in the NICU, or any other area of the hospital, begin here.

In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic affected us all. My youngest son was four and ready to begin a critical year of pre-K to prepare for kindergarten. His preschool was struggling to keep school open, given the lack of available substitute teachers needed each time a classroom was affected by quarantine. I volunteered as a substitute teacher and office aide during his pre-K year, and continued the following year. Interacting with preschoolers as they stretched their minds and tried new things each day brought me joy during an otherwise difficult time in history. 

Maggie’s Place is a not-for-profit organization that helps pregnant and parenting women experiencing housing insecurity. Pregnant women live in a group home for the duration of their pregnancy and the first year after birth. During their stay, the women are supported in reaching their parenting, educational and financial goals toward self-sufficiency. As an executive leader for a women’s group in Gilbert, Arizona, I was proud to organize a Maggie’s Place representative to speak to our group, and coordinated a donation drive of new items to support the mothers at Maggie’s Place. Together we donated enough to fill a full-size pickup truck and SUV! When I learned of a need for a storage solution for Maggie’s Place, I was proud to coordinate with Mattson Construction to design and build a custom “stroller garage” for this wonderful group of moms. 

To get involved, please learn more about Maggie’s Place. 

In 2019 and 2020, I served as a discussion leader for a group of 10 women over the course of 10 months within the MomCo organization. Additionally, served as one of 10 leaders who planned and executed bi-weekly meetings and events for a group of 85 women, including relevant topic development, guest speaker coordination, event planning, relationship development and assistance for new or struggling mothers. 

If you have an interest in MomCo, find a group near you.