1. What ways are you involved as a volunteer?

I do wishes, I do some tables at events, help at fundraising events, and I also do airport wishes. I am also helping out with the development team in corporate fundraising as an intern of sorts.

2. How did you first find Make-A-Wish?

I was living in Boston and traveling a lot for work so I was looking for volunteer work that didn’t require a scheduled commitment on a regular basis. I am not really sure how I came upon it exactly as I was looking at a lot of different organizations. What I loved was Make-A-Wish offered the ability to sign up for what you had time for when you were available. The flexibility was key for me. Out in Boston I did a lot of fundraising events with tables and selling tickets and talking to people about Make -A-Wish.

3. How long have you been volunteering with Make-A-Wish MN?

I started volunteering for Make-A-Wish when living in Boston in 2017, I continued to volunteer with them when I moved to Denver, Colorado in 2019, and when I moved to Minnesota in 2021, I transferred again to the team here. What’s nice is anywhere you go you can join up with Make-A-Wish.

4. What has been the most rewarding experience of volunteering with Make-A-Wish?

The most rewarding part for me is running into people when I have my Make-A-Wish T-shirt on and they tell me about the Wish they had when they were a kid. That tells me that it is so meaningful that they never forget their experience and are so grateful. Of course I love to see the kids get their wishes as well.

5. What advice would you give to new volunteers?

I think the hardest thing is just being afraid of doing something new. Even if you are nervous to meet new families, the families give you so much grace and remember they are also nervous.

6. What story would you share to inspire others to become a volunteer with Make-A-Wish?

When I’m working at tabling events, the hesitation that people share with me is that they just are uncomfortable with sick children or they’re worried that all of the children are at some kind of end stage, which isn’t true for the most part. What is great about Make-A-Wish is you are giving a child and their family a dream. And it’s really great to be able to facilitate that for people. You do this with the help of the wonderful team at Make-A-Wish. You are never alone and helping a child and their family. It is a team effort.