In her first year volunteering with Make-A-Wish Arizona, Anaias González-Ocampo has experienced wishes in all kinds of ways.

From early-morning airport send-offs and community events to shopping experiences alongside wish kids, each has shown her just how much a wish can give a family. 

Anaias first connected with Make-A-Wish through Wish Flight, a chartered flight that gave 23 Arizona wish kids and their families the opportunity to have their wishes granted at Walt Disney World^® Resort in Orlando, Florida. She initially helped behind the scenes, but when the day arrived and she saw the experience come together and she knew she wanted to be part of it in a bigger way. 

She signed up to volunteer, and she has been showing up for wish families ever since. 

For Anaias, some of the most meaningful moments can also be the simplest. 

At wish send-offs, she watches families arrive at the airport with passports, bags and everything they need for the journey ahead. Then, little by little, Anaias starts taking a few of those responsibilities off their hands. 

“Oh, don't worry, I got it. You can go to the bathroom. I got it. I have it here. I'll hold the bags. I'll check the bag for you,” Anaias said. 

It may seem small, but Anaias has seen what happens next. 

“You can see their shoulders go down a little bit and they begin to relax. That break is so necessary,” she said. “And you can see it in their eyes.” 

That sense of relief has helped shape what Anaias believes a wish can provide for a family. 

As a bilingual volunteer, Anaias can offer another layer of support to Spanish-speaking wish families. Being able to communicate in the language a family is most comfortable using helps her build connections and be there for families throughout their wish experience. 

For Anaias, volunteering often comes down to meeting families where they are and finding ways to make the experience a little easier. 

“Seeing a mom tired, exhausted or emotional, or even numb, and sometimes just holding her hand and saying, 'I got you for these next couple steps. I got you,' — that has opened my heart even further.” 

The connections Anaias has made with wish families have also changed what giving back means to her. While she gives her time, she says she receives something from them, too. 

“You're giving your time, but you're also receiving so much,” Anaias said. “You're receiving love from the family. You're receiving love from the kids.” 

For Anaias, the joy she has witnessed is what she shares with others who may be hesitant to volunteer. 

“I tell them that it's fun because it is,” Anaias said. “Helping the community and giving something back is always rewarding.”