Today’s post comes from Julie Murphy, Senior Director of Government Affairs at Points of Light. She is also the head of the Washington, DC Office for Points of Light.  In this role, she is responsible for relationship management and communications with public policymakers in the promotion of volunteerism, service and policies that encourage civic engagement.  She joined Points of Light in January of 2008. 

When the idea surfaced of a volunteer service project for the Points of Light DC staff in conjunction with Thanksgiving, I thought to myself, “This will be a piece of cake because this is our bread and butter.”  (Yes, a delicious mix of metaphors, appropriate for the holiday!)

The process of identifying and conducting an employee service project revealed to me, however, how challenging and how valuable our work is and how the relationships between individuals and those in need can become a deep bond through service.

We are a motley crew here in DC with competing schedules and high energy.  When we decided that we would like to do a service project as a way of giving thanks, Norman Walton, our DC Operations Manager and I quickly contacted several organizations, assuming they would welcome us with open arms.  Many never got back to us; others had as many volunteers as they needed.  One project to load food boxes for distribution on Thanksgiving turned out to be a 30 minute drive from downtown Washington.

It was looking discouraging and the irony was not lost on our team. It was made evident to us that the work that our affiliates do every day across the country is far from simple and far from automatic.  Many organizations could use help year round but do not have the bandwidth to operate a nimble and comprehensive volunteer management program.

Finally, we happened upon A-SPAN, the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network.  Our first contact was with Sarah Morse, Manager of Volunteer Programs & Special Events.  When we arrived at their offices and in-take center, she provided our intrepid team of Kerby Teller, Khyati Desai, Kelly Zito, Norman Walton and I with an overview of A-SPAN’s mission and programs, oriented us to their offices and introduced us to their Executive Director who was more than gracious.

We then spent the next 2 hours sorting through piles of donated clothes and personal hygiene products.  We even came across a HandsOn Gulf Coast T-shirt, well worn and a tangible reminder of the scope of our footprint!  The only challenge we had was when Norman and Kerby came across a mint-condition Cal Ripken baseball jersey that each of them coveted!

At the end of our time at A-SPAN, we were able to step back and proudly survey two rooms full of clothes and toiletries, fully organized by size and type and available to those in need.  We left feeling that, even in a small way, we had made a difference.

The DC office of Points of Light hopes to establish a long-term relationship with A-SPAN.  As with most acts of service, what the giver receives is beyond measure and we were privileged to have had this opportunity to build a stronger connection to the many around us who must go without during this holiday season.

 

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