[dmg_masonry_gallery...
Making Magic for the Long-Haul
April is National Volunteer Month, so we want to say a special thank you to ALL the volunteers in the Just in Time community who support our young people to become Confident, Capable and Connected. Volunteers like Mary Gross, who, over the past four years, has participated in My First Home, Career Horizons, College Bound, and Financial Fitness, are what make our community great! Mary even helps us out in the office.
Many years ago, Mary volunteered at what is now the Polinsky Children’s Center, a temporary receiving home run by the County of San Diego. It was there that Mary first noticed there was a cliff that young people step out onto when they end their time in foster care. A co-worker later connected Mary with Just in Time, and she immediately fell in love with the services we provide. Her mission became clear: To help youth who ended up in challenging situations through no fault of their own. And she is committed to the long haul. “The hidden piece of all of your services is the value of the relationship the youth could have with a coach in a long-term perspective, and that is where the magic happens,” Mary shares.
Early into volunteering with JIT, Mary realized most former foster youth had only had relationships with adults who were paid to do so. And that they could not understand why Mary and other volunteers gave their time for free. Relationships, she realized, were seen as fleeting, unreliable, and transactional. Mary explains, “The woman I coach now took around 18 months to fully “get it” that I wasn’t going anywhere. She didn’t grasp what was in it for me. Another young woman told me many people come and go; they sound interested but then disappear.”
For those interested in volunteering, Mary believes, “The opportunity will not only change the life of a young person but change your own life as well. A lot of volunteer opportunities are sort of one and done. This opportunity requires self-motivation because you would want to stay engaged and stay in touch with the youth you are connected with. It doesn’t end when you walk out the door. For me, it has been about sharing something I know. If I could impart a piece of wisdom along the way, even if they end up using it in ten years, that’s a value I’ve added. And that is what it is all about, creating and building community.”
Mary has coached and mentored several young women with whom she stays in touch. One woman, Ceci, she met in Career Horizons for Young Women. On paper, she says, their match didn’t make sense. And yet, their relationship endures. This is a shining example of the Magic our volunteers make each day, one youth at a time.
“The opportunity will not only change the life of a young person but change your own life as well