"I still get a rush when someone says yes,” she said. “It never gets old.”

It takes support of all kinds to help grant wishes and make them extra-special, whether it’s a local bakery donating cupcakes to help enhance a wish child’s online shopping spree or a contractor volunteering to help prep a yard for a playhouse installation.

Wish-granting volunteers like Michelle are on the front lines in our community and often bridge those connections to help find resources. For Michelle, it’s all about building relationships.

That’s what initially drew Michelle to the wish-granting role. What she found was so much more: a meaningful way to not only grant wishes for children with critical illnesses, but also a way to build relationships in her community and engage others with a desire to help.

She’s made connections for wishes during a wish presentation at a local store. She’s enlisted the help of family and friends. She’s reached out to local businesses. She’s found enthusiastic support in many places.

“More often than not, people want to give, they just don’t know how to get involved,” said Michelle. She’s been amazed at how many times a conversation about Make-A-Wish leads to an offer to help.

“Everybody has a story for why they jump in,” she said. “They are giving something and they are getting more in return. It goes back to how important it is to lift each other up.”

If you’d like to be a community-builder like Michelle and help grant wishes, sign up to volunteer today! Wish-granting volunteers work in teams of two and partner with a staff member to coordinate all the exciting details that make each wish so special. You are given the support and resources needed to make every wish a fun and meaningful experience for all involved. You can make a life-changing difference in the lives of local kids with this incredible and unique hands-on volunteer experience.