Thank you volunteers! We appreciate your dedication to our mission. We’re grateful you choose to support Second Story with your time, energy, passion, and ideas. Your commitment inspires our staff and allows them to focus on meeting the needs of the young people in our programs. Whether you are working hands-on in our programs or helping provide professional services behind the scenes, we are grateful. Hear directly from our CEO Jade Leedham as we celebrate our volunteers during National Volunteer Month.
Every single program and department within our organization benefits from volunteers. In fact last year more than 414 volunteers donated more than 18,153 hours to Second Story. What does that look like? We’ll share more directly from the programs.
Second Story for Young Mothers
How do volunteers make an impact on our programs? How do our volunteers inspire our staff to work even harder for the youth and families we serve? We asked our staff at Second Story for Young Mothers to choose a volunteer to highlight. This is the response we received.
“You want me to choose just one?? I am not sure that I can do that. We have Dan, who is over the moon fantastic as our handyman and has been able to tackle nearly every issue we’ve thrown at him. But’s he’s not a big fan of recognition. We have Amy, who comes every other week to do organizing tasks while her little kids are in school. She has nearly revolutionized the place. We can give her just about any task and set her free and she just makes it happen. She’s incredible.
Then we have Paola and Nicole. These two started as childcare volunteers either on the same day, or nearly. They started with us early last year and have made sure that we have Monday night groups in person every single Monday. They come from different backgrounds, and bring their own special qualities to the job and just make our jobs so much easier. They have played with toddlers and kindergarteners, they have held babies, they have changed diapers, and made space for tantrums. They are my rockstars. Last Summer after they had both been volunteering for a few months, we asked if they could do two hours each Monday night instead of the one hour they signed up for. Both agreed. This allowed us to partner with a program that is geared towards the parenting and life skills education of teen parents and gives our clients additional resources even long after they leave us. Paola and Nicole made it happen. And then both were happy to switch back to the one hour a week in the Fall when the program ended. It’s been more than a year now and they still show up weekly and are just so amazing to us, the kids, and the moms each week. We could not do it without them.
We also have Grace & Rhemi that jump in at a moment’s notice to fill in when other childcare volunteers call out. They are both super dependable and can manage whatever comes up. I know Grace has a great story for why she came to us, and Rhemi did a security check for us and has helped us identify ways to keep the moms, kids, and staff safer on a budget. These two volunteers were both with SSYM long before I came and continue to show up and care and keep us going.
We’ve got Chanda & Ravi who come in and help with tutoring and medical questions. We have not been able to use them as much right now, but they are still with us and being super patient in the process.
And then we have a whole bunch of new volunteers. We are grateful for all of them. We have Deborah who is finding ways to serve in the community and helps us gather supplies. We have Colleen, Abby, and Heather who are brand new, but have stepped in in amazing ways. They are here for childcare and more and are enabling us to have the same success on Tuesdays that we currently enjoy on Mondays. While we are still getting to know them, it’s clear that they are going to add so much to our program.
Lastly, we are starting a new idea with our volunteers and residents and offering a “House Parent.” As a house parent, the volunteer will meet weekly with the mom for the first six weeks of her stay and help mom and staff learn where her strengths and weaknesses are. The house parent will help guide the mom in learning basic life skills for living independently. This can be everything from how to get stains out of your clothes to how to organize your schedule. While staff often addresses these issues in other ways, by having a house parent the mom will have an additional adult in their life that is supporting them. We have reached out to many of our dedicated volunteers and asked if they would be interested in this new role, and many have been. This is just the beginning. I am positive that I left someone out, but I am not sure I could pick just one great volunteer. They are all amazing in the variety of gifts they bring to our program.”
Second Story in the Community — Springfield Safe Youth Project (SSYP)
Volunteers are critical to ensuring we can run our after-school programs efficiently. Not only do they support our staff, but they also help make it possible to give each and every student the attention they deserve. Here’s what our SSYP Program Coordinator said about some current volunteers.
“Daniel joined SSYP as a volunteer in October 2024. Since starting, he has shown compassion, dedication, and commitment to our youth through his interactions and engagements. Daniel always shows up with a positive attitude and can-do mentality. He is thoughtful, mindful, and culturally competent when engaging with our youth. Daniel always provides encouragement to all our students; especially to our boys. Whenever he comes to SSYP, the lights in the eyes of the students light up and a sense of safety and encouragement is felt by his presence. Recently, Daniel donated various snacks to the program. He also donated pizza for our holiday party for the entire program and their families. Daniel is a strong contributor and asset to SSYP and we are grateful for his support and positive vibe in SSYP! “
“Inci joined SSYP as a volunteer in April 2024. Inci has been incredible with her lessons regarding science, art, health, and nature education. She is also a wonderful asset to our youth through her positive interactions and engagement with them; specifically with our girls and shy students. Inci brings out the best of those who surround her. Whenever a student is having a difficult time, she is always ready to support and bring out the best of them, even when they are not feeling the best. Since April, Inci has donated various supplies and food to SSYP. She also contributed significant efforts to field trips; being a strong guide in our nature education visit at Mason Neck Park and thoughtful planner for our laser tag trip last summer. We are extremely grateful for Inci and continue to look forward to her lessons and volunteering in SSYP!”
“Inci joined SSYP as a volunteer in April 2024. Inci has been incredible with her lessons regarding science, art, health, and nature education. She is also a wonderful asset to our youth through her positive interactions and engagement with them; specifically with our girls and shy students. Inci brings out the best of those who surround her. Whenever a student is having a difficult time, she is always ready to support and bring out the best of them, even when they are not feeling the best. Since April, Inci has donated various supplies and food to SSYP. She also contributed significant efforts to field trips; being a strong guide in our nature education visit at Mason Neck Park and thoughtful planner for our laser tag trip last summer. We are extremely grateful for Inci and continue to look forward to her lessons and volunteering in SSYP!”
Second Story for Teens in Crisis
Here are just a few things Second Story for Teens in Crisis staff had to say about their long-time volunteer, Ben.
“Ben has been a very consistent and dependable volunteer for a long, long time. He noticed things that needed fixing around the house and offered to help tighten this, or repair that, or hang something that needed hanging. One time we got new furniture and he offered to put them together. We had a resident who offered to help, and they spent hours working together to get the furniture put together. Ben was patient and spent extra time teaching and talking to the resident while they worked. It was so wonderful to watch.”
“He has been so dependable, consistent, and reliable since the beginning of his involvement with us. He always maintains a great attitude and thinks of ways to use his time effectively, even taking inventory of our emergency needs supplies a few weeks ago when we were having a slow period. He is extremely valued! ”
Why does Ben continue to show up for Second Story?
“In my years of volunteering at Second Story for Teens in Crisis, I have seen many residents go through the program. It’s always rewarding when you see a difference being made. Sometimes it’s hard work, sometimes it’s demanding, but more often than not it’s enjoyable to work with our residents and staff. I’m always uplifted when I go home after a volunteer shift. I believe that we are making a positive difference in individual lives and I’m privileged to help out in this in whatever way I can.” – Ben
Development Team and Organization-Wide Support
We’re incredibly thankful for the ongoing support from Navy Federal Credit Union, whose team has generously volunteered their time and energy to support Second Story. From making snack packs to assembling winter kits, their generosity and care for the young people and families we serve shine through.
“Navy Federal is such a fierce and dedicated supporter of Second Story! They never cease to amaze us! When they commit to supporting our mission, they go all in. From inviting us to raise awareness and grow our network of supporters, to assembling an incredible number of care packs for the youth and families we serve, their generosity truly makes a difference. Thank you Navy Federal Credit Union!” – Alex Villegas, Second Story Volunteer and Outreach Manager.
“Second Story’s mission in Vienna of helping support opportunities to turn the page and begin a new chapter of thriving is something our Navy Federal team members love to play a role in. Navy Federal finds a great sense of joy and pride knowing that we are serving those who need it the most in our own backyard. We couldn’t be more honored to support such a noble organization with a 50+ year history of touching lives in the Vienna area.” – Diane Young, Chief Operating Officer, Navy Federal Financial Group
“Anna (Founder and Principal Designer at AKG Studio) and her team at AKG have been so supportive! They are always ready to help in any way they can. When we had our toy drive, Anna stepped up. When our programs needed urgent items, Anna stepped up. When we needed someone to install a dishwasher, Anna stepped up! She is always spreading the word, volunteering herself and her team to ensure we have what we need to thrive, and never hesitates to help. I’ve truly enjoyed collaborating with her and am so grateful for everything she’s done!” – Alex Villegas, Second Story Volunteer and Outreach Manager
We couldn’t have launched our new website without Laurie’s help. She rolled up her sleeves and used her writing and technical skills to improve our content, fix technical issues, and simply make our site better. Thank you, Laurie! Why does Laurie donate her time to Second Story?
“After attending an Open Door session, I worked with staff to find a role that fits my schedule, uses and develops skills I have, and makes a difference.” – Laurie
Thanks to Laura’s translation services, our materials are more accessible to all. She has saved us countless hours and turns around projects in record time! Why does Laura volunteer with Second Story?
“I volunteer with Second Story because I believe clear communication can change lives. I want to help ensure that every young person and family can access the support they need—no matter what language they speak.” – Laura
Aarav has been a tremendous help and such a creative force to help us communicate our volunteer needs through videos. His video editing skills are great and he comes prepared with strategic input. We’re truly thankful that Aarav was able lend his skills for us. Why does Aarav use his skills to support Second Story?
“I believe in their mission to provide safe havens and opportunities for local youth and families in need. By helping them reach a wider audience, I hope to support their impactful work in the community.” – Aarav
Are you interested in finding a volunteer role with Second Story that best suits you? We invite you to attend an Open Door Session and take a look at some options. Thank you all!
