“I know some people might be reluctant to volunteer because they don’t have the time or energy. They feel as if it’s just going to take from them. What I get back is far more than I put into it. I was shocked by how much, actually!”
- Amy
Amy looks forward to Monday mornings. She says goodbye to her husband and kids, and heads to support the Pregnant and Parenting Youth Program at Herbert Street. She arrives, all smiles, ready to see “her babies”.
As a mom of two and a student training to become an art therapist, she wants to show her children what it means to give back. What surprises her is how much it gives her in return. Volunteering has become a form of self-care.
“Not only are my kids learning it’s important to give back, they also see the impact it has on me. I leave Herbert feeling amazing.”
For Amy, volunteering isn’t just about helping others – it’s deeply personal. She was raised by a young single mother who left school at 16 and often felt isolated and judged.
“A program like this would have changed my mom’s life – and mine,” she says. Her mom did finish school years later, including college, but it came with intense work and sacrifices. “If my mom had been able to continue school with these supports and childminding, it would have made such a difference.”
That memory fuels Amy’s commitment.
“When I see the young parents in the program – how supported they are, how their confidence grows, and their babies flourish – it’s emotional.”
Another part of her volunteering that Amy cherishes is the connections with other volunteers.
“We really bond. It feels like a little community. I didn’t realize how much I needed that, too.”
Amy smiles and shares, “It might sound silly, but I really like being told I’m valued and appreciated. I know my family appreciates me, but it’s not something that’s said out loud very often. I know I’m going to hear that from at least a couple people every week.”
What began as a way to give back became something more. Amy found connection and a sense of purpose she didn’t expect.
