David's Volunteer Story

Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catchers mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.”

This concept is the epitome of why I became a Friendship Circle volunteer, 5 years ago. When I first started, I saw the Friendship circle as a much different place than I do now. I saw the Friendship Circle as simply a nice thing to do for my community, and that’s it. The Friendship Circle was a place where I could spend time with children and have fun, but at the end of the day, I went home and everything stayed the same. As I matured, I started to find a link between volunteering, and my life outside of the Friendship Circle. While participating in home visits, community events, and social gatherings, the link had been forged with the friendships and community surrounding me. I had discovered my passion, to help others in need.

As I started to reflect on my Friendship Circle experience, I discovered something very interesting about the dynamic that my service to the community had created. The Friendship Circle is a beautiful name for this organization. The idea of a Circle of Friends is one thing, but the idea that the joy and happiness evoked from the Friendship Circle can affect not only our wonderful friends but also our volunteers. That is something that is truly unique. As Maya Angelou said, on one hand lies a catchers mitt. Through my service to the community, I have been changed as person by the children that have and always will inspire me. I feel honored to be able to have spent time with my very special and life-changing Friendship Circle friends. The Friendship Circle and its supporters, friends and volunteers have molded me into a completely new person. A person who is dedicated to giving back to his community and helping those in need.

I will be forever grateful and honored to say that I am a part of the Friendship Circle and will never forget the very special people that have molded me into the person I am today.

Thank you.

David, Columbus, OH