Self Care
The Unexpected Joy of Showing Up
From grief to growth and “I needed this” moments—Sisters reveal the real, lasting rewards of volunteering.
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Do you ever feel tugged to do something? Maybe you’re compelled to share what brings you joy with others. Or maybe you recognize a need—one that wouldn’t be hard for you to fill. Whatever your reason, volunteering your time and talents is often just as meaningful for you as it is for the people you’re helping.
That’s because volunteering can enrich your life by reminding you that you are still useful, still capable, and still able to create positive change in your community. When we take the focus off ourselves for a bit—whether it’s offering a smile or a meal—we often begin to see our own lives more clearly, too.
So, if you need an extra nudge to contribute or to participate in a worthy cause, consider this your sign. Here’s how some Sisters are making a positive change in others’ lives—and what they’ve discovered along the way.
Community Hiking: I thought I was solving a small problem—until 2,000‑plus people opted in
I volunteered to bring people together to get more active by planning hikes in scenic places. It began with my group of friends. In 2014, we created a Facebook group to make planning easier. Then we invited a few others—and during Covid, it expanded exponentially.
What started as five or six of us has grown to more than 2,100 members. We’ve hiked all over Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties, including Los Leones (Malibu), Bridge to Nowhere (La Verne), Inspiration Point (Altadena), and Top of the World (Laguna Beach).
— Kendra B., 50, Long Beach, CA
Church Welcome: I didn’t know what I was missing—until I stopped sitting in the back
A few years ago, I moved to Chicago for a new job and started looking for a church home. When I found one, it quickly became a refuge during a challenging season. I never expected to volunteer there, but after feeling so filled every Sunday, I wanted to give something back.
I began serving as an usher and came to love being more actively part of the church. Volunteering introduced me to people I never would have known otherwise. Now I look forward to church even more. I’m not just sitting in the back anymore—I’m part of the community.
While I’m helping others feel welcomed and cared for, my service makes me feel that way, too.
— Tamar Bell, 51, Chicago, IL
Youth Empowerment: I thought I was just helping—then I saw what access can unlock
Volunteering is woven into almost every part of my life—it’s how I stay grounded, connected, and purposeful. I serve on several boards and committees. Impact46 is especially close to my heart. Through this nonprofit, I help drive housing resources across Gwinnett County and recently supported the opening of the county’s first men’s shelter.
I also volunteer through my sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., working on programs that align with our mission and vision for the year.
Much of my service centers on empowering young people through literacy, creativity, and exposure to STEAMM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, and medicine) fields. I organize and support events like the MY TECH Expo, STEAMM field trips, book fairs, and author workshops—all designed to help kids see themselves as innovators, storytellers, and leaders.
Through my publishing company, CAMsDEN Publishing, I mentor aspiring authors, many of them women and young people, as they share their stories for the first time. It doesn’t always look like “volunteering,” but it’s a deeply personal form of service: giving people access, confidence, and representation they may not have had otherwise.
I volunteer because when you pour into your community, you help shape the world your children will inherit. My service is my way of showing up—as a mom, a leader, a storyteller, and someone who wants the next generation to dream bigger than the limits they’ve seen.
— Leslie Clark, Buford, GA
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Neighborhood Outreach: I joined to help with “small” acts—then watched a whole community change
The first time I remember volunteering in my community was in college. Every Saturday morning, we met in a half-finished building in a neighborhood with the city’s highest crime rate. After a short prayer, we grabbed trash bags and headed out.
Some days, we spent the entire time cleaning the streets. Other days, we knocked on doors, asking widows and seniors if they needed help with yard work or mowing the lawn.
When we began that outreach, the Dream Center was just a skeleton—no walls, just a structure. By the time my work there ended, it had become a fully functioning community center offering food, clothing, medical checkups, and a newly renovated basketball gym.
“The widow down the street” was no longer a widow—she was Grandma Shirley. And we were no longer students. Some of us had married the people we met in that half‑finished building, raised children, and bought homes in that very neighborhood.
We weren’t just showing up for the community anymore—the community was showing up for itself. Crime rates dropped, and lives changed. I’ve carried that experience with me everywhere I’ve lived, always looking for my part. We are not just cities—we are the communities that make up our nation.
— Candice Bradley, Los Angeles, CA
Hospice Care: I signed up to help—but discovered that I was the one being held
Answering the call to become a hospice volunteer after losing my husband literally saved my life. Volunteering changed everything. As I walked alongside others in pain, I began to heal—and along the way, I discovered my true calling: volunteer management.
I transformed grief into purpose, heartbreak into action, and pain into a passion that now brings light to others. Volunteering doesn’t just support those in need—it can help you rediscover yourself, your strength, and your hope.
— Terry Preston, 62, Newark, NJ
Youth Leadership: I came to give back—then realized I was getting the gift
Volunteering is my love in action. It’s how I say thank you to the people who lifted me when they didn’t have to.
When I serve—especially through The Stewart Foundation, an Atlanta‑based youth leadership organization supporting young people ages 8–18—I feel connected to something bigger than myself. Watching their confidence grow, hearing their laughter, and seeing their eyes light up when they realize their own potential reminds me why this work matters.
To me, volunteering isn’t a task—it’s a gift. It’s taught me compassion, stretched my patience, and filled my life with purpose and joy. I’ve gained relationships, perspective, and a deeper understanding of how powerful kindness can be.
I volunteer because I believe every service moment plants a seed—and I want the seeds I plant to grow into hope, courage, and opportunity for someone else.
— Sandra Newsome, 67, Norcross, GA
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