“It has hardly felt like work at all.”
Out of hundreds of employees across EmberHope, Sarah Lewis, our Intake & Admissions Data Specialist, logged the most volunteer hours this past fiscal year—and her heart for service shines through in every moment she’s given.
“I am so happy that I have been able to volunteer so much this year,” Sarah said. “There have been so many great projects and events going on that it has hardly felt like work at all!”
Sarah’s journey of volunteering with EmberHope started early. “Part of the fun of volunteering is having my mother be the Volunteer Coordinator for EmberHope. It adds the special connection of not only helping my organization but also helping family and getting to spend time with her.” She added, “I have been volunteering for EmberHope since 2012 in a variety of different ways. Clerical work, watching children while foster parents are in training, fundraising, etc.! Volunteering for EmberHope has been my whole childhood so it feels very natural to carry that into adulthood.”
Service is a value that runs deep for Sarah. “I grew up as a Girl Scout, so volunteering has always been something I am very familiar with,” she explained. “It is important to me to give back to the communities around me because then I feel more in touch with them and myself. It can be very relaxing to donate your time to a cause that needs it!”
Her favorite volunteer moment this year? “My favorite project of this year was re-organizing the resource room at 1140,” she shared. “My supervisor, Trisha Eckert, and Records Administrator, Julie Neises, helped us that day and it turned out to be a lot of fun! Organizing is a passion of mine already so that part was easy. Having coworkers there that we could laugh with made the day so much greater and not only made for lighter work but also helped everyone get to know one another better!”
Sarah sees volunteering as an essential extension of EmberHope’s mission. “Volunteering is a core value to me within EmberHope’s mission,” she said. “While it may not be explicitly stated that way, I feel it is everything we stand for. As a faith-based agency, it is important to see our work as giving back to the community and volunteering to help that mission is just another way to achieve that.”
When asked what she would say to encourage other staff to volunteer, Sarah offered this simple and empowering advice:
“There is always something to do at any time and any place! If you are busy when a specific volunteer opportunity arises, don’t worry about it! Reach out to Virginia Lewis with the availability you do have, and your preferred location and she will definitely find a way for you to contribute.”
She also sees volunteering as a way to understand the bigger picture of EmberHope’s work. “It can give you a different side of what our organization does,” she explained. “I have worked for EmberHope in a few different roles, and I am still learning new things that we do every day. Through volunteering in different areas, I learn even more about other people’s job duties, the families that we serve, the community around us, and more!”
And finally, for anyone on the fence about signing up:
“I know it can seem daunting and feel like you are giving up your free time but, in all actuality, every time I have volunteered for a project or event, I have walked out feeling far happier and more productive than I do on an average Saturday or weekday evening. Not to mention all the smiling faces I have met and become familiar with!”
Thank you, Sarah, for setting an incredible example and showing that volunteering doesn’t just support our mission—it strengthens our community from the inside out.
Interested in volunteering? Visit our volunteer page to learn more or check out our upcoming events for ways to give back!
