“Volunteering is not just a way to give back. It shows your commitment to the community,” says recent retiree Geneva Sydnor. After moving back to the area just a few months ago, Sydnor immediately began looking for meaningful ways to reconnect with and contribute to the community she once again calls home.

One of the first organizations that came to mind was The Haven Shelter & Services, Inc. Her mother had long been a patron of its thrift store, but Sydnor realized she knew little about the full breadth of the organization’s mission. A quick online search led her to their website and to the Volunteer River Counties hub, where she created an account and registered for The Haven’s special Hub Launch event in September.

Because of the word “shelter” in its name, Sydnor had always assumed The Haven primarily served unhoused individuals. She had no idea how much more the organization did—until she attended an immersive learning experience led by Brittany Clayborne, Resource Development Director at The Haven. The session introduced participants to the realities and difficult choices faced by individuals experiencing intimate partner violence. Attendees also took part in hands-on volunteer activities, assembling snack packs for families and preparing printed outreach materials. “Taking that class opened my eyes,” Sydnor reflects.

Originally, Sydnor had viewed the event as a one-time volunteer opportunity. Instead, it became the beginning of an ongoing commitment. Inspired by what she learned, she immediately began looking for ways to stay involved. “I have always tried to bring other people along,” she says—and she has quickly become one of The Haven’s most enthusiastic ambassadors.

Sydnor has already signed up for another volunteer shift in December. She also helped spark a new partnership between The Haven and her church, Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Farnham, which will host its own Community Cares event and holiday brunch this December in support of The Haven.

If hearing Sydnor’s story inspired you to want to work with the Haven too, visit their page on Volunteer River Counties to find out more about their current needs. Or check out all the different volunteer opportunities available with more than 60 other non-profit organizations you can find on the hub.