VOICE vendors reflect on volunteering

Joshua Bieber

I go to an outreach at Dry Bones. The volunteers there provide food and bus passes for youth at risk, and also help me purchase my bus passes for half price. It is a great program.

When I go to Dry Bones, we hang out and watch YouTube videos. We eat snacks and then dinner. I like to eat chips and cereal.

Once we played an acting game with the volunteers. I was the director—it put a happy face on me. Dry Bones has been very helpful to me. ■

Raelene Johnson

Since becoming a VOICE vendor, I am now on the volunteering team for events. I help get items for silent auctions. I like doing this to help the VOICE raise money to keep it going. [Editor’s note: Raelene is really good at finding silent auction donations!]

I love to help others. I also volunteer at church. Volunteering keeps you from thinking about your problems. I find that helping others is very satisfying.

Find someone or some place to help. You will find your life becomes that much better. ■

Stephanie Rogers

Volunteering was part of growing up at my church, and when I first got invited to help at Meals on Wheels, it introduced me to a new way of life.

As a troubled teen, I felt a lot of self-doubt. I felt like my life was useless. Talking with the people I helped through Meals on Wheels made my heart light up. For the first time in my life I felt positive about myself. I felt needed and loved, which encouraged me to do more good. An understanding of what it means to help others was a spiritual gift. ■

Good News, Homeless NewsDV StaffMarch 30, 2017Denver VOICE, Denver, volunteer, vendor, street papers