August Volunteer of the Month, John C.
We are excited to introduce John C., our August Volunteer of the Month. John volunteers to help recently resettled refugees navigate their new lives in Colorado. Helping with important tasks like housing, applying for documentation, and providing support and guidance to ensure they have all they need to settle in.
Staff members Monsour and Ross shared:
"John is doing an amazing job supporting resettled refugees. Recently, he has assisted clients with many important tasks, including housing navigation, collecting pay stubs, and applying for replacement documents. He continues to provide consistent support and guidance to help individuals maintain stability and access needed services." – Monsour
"John has gone above and beyond to assist refugee clients with challenging needs. From navigating Social Security Administration (SSA) to helping secure employment and countless little things, he has truly made the difference for these clients." – Ross
Read more about John's volunteer impact below:
Q: Tell us about yourself and your background.
JC: I grew up here in Denver and left for college in the Pacific Northwest. After school, I spent several years as a research associate in labs doing biomedical and biochemistry research, then several more years doing legal work for environmental non-profit organizations. My partner and I then moved to the Washington, DC, area, where I started a third career as a media specialist working in NASA's Office of Communications. Four years ago, we managed to move back to Denver, now with two kids in elementary school. I now work part-time as a teacher with Denver Public Schools, which gives me plenty of time to volunteer with JFS.
Q: What volunteer role do you have with JFS, and what roles have you had with JFS?
JC: My one and only role with JFS (so far) is as a refugee resettlement volunteer.
Q: What motivated you to begin volunteering with JFS?
JC: After moving back to Colorado, I had some free time, and I wanted to find some way to help others and give back to the community. I was speaking with a neighbor who told me that they had a great experience volunteering with JFS, so I checked it out and was drawn to the volunteer positions helping refugees navigate life here in the US and in Denver. I have been doing this work for about a year and a half now.
Q: What's your favorite part about volunteering with JFS, and how has being a JFS volunteer impacted your life?
JC: I really like feeling that I am making a positive difference in someone's life, giving them some needed help, helping to make them feel welcome in this country. It may be a small thing, like teaching someone how to use the bus to get to work but is a concrete achievement I can look at and say there is something I did that helped someone.
Q: What would you say to someone considering volunteering with JFS?
JC: Volunteering with JFS has been a great experience for me. They support their volunteers and ensure they have the info needed to start helping right away. There are also many different programs and ways to help, and it is very flexible and easy to fit into your schedule.
Are you interested in volunteering? Learn more and sign up today.