Why do you volunteer—why is it important to you?
I volunteer to make an impact in my community. So many are less fortunate than I and I want them to know there are people out there that care about them, what they are going through, and can help even if it is just in the moment.
Name an organization(s) you volunteer for regularly?
TIP (Trauma Intervention Program) and HOPE (Helping Our People of Elsinore) food pantry.
How were you introduced to those organizations?
My mother actually introduced me to TIP. She is a volunteer and is now actually the COO. It is a program that is there for people during traumatic events such as suicides, drownings, accidents, etc. They are there to assist the victim’s family with information, keeping them safe and out of the way of first responders and sometimes just being a shoulder. HOPE actually helped me when I was a single mother and homeless for a brief moment. It was help that I needed with food and clothing, so I regularly donate to them and have assisted on food box distribution days.
What causes are you passionate about supporting and why?
I am passionate about helping people however they need—if they need someone to just listen or food, clothes, information, etc. I was in a bad place about 18 years ago, and if it wasn’t for someone reaching out to me to help, I don’t know where I would be. So I want to pay it forward.
Are you able to lend your work/professional expertise to the causes/organization you care about?
In a sense, my work has helped me become a better listener so being able to listen when someone just needs to talk.
What are some of your favorite volunteer activities?
Handing out food and supplies to needy families is my favorite. The smiles you get from them when they truly need the support, is so gratifying.
Share a memory of your first service/volunteering experience.
I was with my mom, helping with document preparation for TIP volunteer training, and a lady came to her saying how amazing TIP is and that they helped her get through the suicide of her 18-year-old son. She said she would be forever grateful and is now a volunteer herself.
Has anyone in your life influenced you to prioritize giving back through volunteering?
My mother and grandparents. The struggles they went through to build the life they have now—coming from Cuba with nothing and having people reach out and help them. It impacted them, which in turn impacted me.
How have you witnessed volunteering impact your community, family, or yourself?
It has helped me be more grateful for what I have.
How do you feel after volunteering?
Satisfied, grateful, emotional, many different feelings run through depending on the volunteer event I have participated in.
Deckers Careers 