For four years while my children were in high school, I volunteered with the programs that were important to them: one year supporting the school band and three years supporting the theatre program. I sold tickets and concessions, served as an usher, cleaned up after events, helped organize potluck meals, and took on whatever other tasks were needed.

Over the years, I have volunteered at three different food pantries, both independently and alongside others. My responsibilities have included stocking shelves, preparing food, assisting shoppers, organizing supplies, and handling the many cleaning and maintenance tasks that keep a pantry running smoothly.

As my son prepared for his Bar Mitzvah, we volunteered together at a clothing store where everything was provided entirely through donations. Families could come in and select clothing for their children, and we helped wherever we were needed: stocking and organizing clothes, assisting parents as they looked for items for their children, carrying things to their cars, and cleaning up.

I spent two weeks volunteering at an orphanage in Guatemala, an experience that left an indelible mark on me. My days were filled with simple but meaningful tasks: helping children with art projects, sharing traditions and explaining American holidays, preparing meals, cleaning, and pitching in wherever help was needed.

For several years, I volunteered as a Friendly Visitor, spending time each week with a member of the senior community. One of the people I had the privilege of getting to know was a Holocaust survivor who had spent two years in a Hungarian ghetto.

Some of my most meaningful volunteer experiences have been the simplest. When my children were younger, we volunteered together making peanut butter sandwiches for people experiencing homelessness in Denver.