As we continue celebrating Caritas of Austin’s (Caritas) 60th anniversary, we want to reflect on those who have worked with us without being on our payroll — our volunteers!
We would like to express our gratitude to all the volunteers who have dedicated their time, energy, and resources to helping us serve our unhoused neighbors. Their unwavering support has been invaluable to our organization, and we could not have made it this far without their help.
Homelessness is a devastating issue affecting communities worldwide. At Caritas, we are dedicated to ending homelessness and rely heavily on volunteers to achieve our mission. Therefore, it is crucial for individuals to donate their time and resources. Our volunteers’ selfless acts of kindness have made a significant difference in the lives of many people, and we cannot thank them enough.
By donating time and resources to Caritas, volunteers help provide essential services like serving healthy foods in our Community Kitchen, helping our staff with administrative paperwork, and providing our clients with resources to help build their well-being.
“Volunteers make the day in every way. It would not be possible to deliver a good hospitality and dining experience to those in need without a full staff of volunteers. With the Community Kitchen often being someone’s first experience with Caritas, volunteers help make sure that experience can turn into something that has long-term positive impacts on the lives of others,” said Community Kitchen Chef, Joe Green.
However, volunteering can have benefits beyond helping those in need.
In addition to the impact on those experiencing homelessness, volunteering at Caritas has a positive impact on the volunteers themselves. Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment and can help individuals develop new skills and connect with like-minded people in our community. Volunteering can also provide opportunities for personal growth as volunteers learn to empathize with others and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing their community.
Our volunteers help us raise awareness about homelessness in our community. By getting involved and sharing their experiences with others, they become educators, helping to teach others the realities of homelessness and the need for ongoing support and resources to address the issue.
As we look ahead to the next 60 years, we know that we can count on our volunteers to continue supporting our mission of ending homelessness in Austin. Their generosity and compassion have made a lasting impact, and we are honored to have them alongside us in this journey.
If you want to get involved and volunteer with Caritas, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Hana Garner at HGarner@CaritasofAustin.org.
