National Volunteer Month
Accompaniment
Editor’s Note: During this National Volunteer month, missioner Aubrey Kimble shares some of her meditations on volunteering and service. Volunteering has always been something that has interested me. I began volunteering a bit here and there throughout elementary and middle school to help with various campus events. I became slightly more serious about volunteering in…
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Learning to Volunteer
Editor’s Note: * indicates names changed to ensure privacy. When I cam to FMS in November, I had very little previous experience in volunteering. It was a requirement in high school, but my football coach usually signed us off for moving tables, and I worked in a soup kitchen and food pantry once or twice,…
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Lessons through Lax
I was lucky enough to have a tremendous coach when I began playing lacrosse in 2006 at the age of 14. While I wasn’t the slightest bit athletic, or motivated in any way, he found a way to make me both, as I went on to start all four years on an NCAA team and graduate…
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Franciscan Friday: Service through Faith: the Ultimate Act of Hope
To honor National Volunteer Month and highlight the service component of the Nonprofit Leadership Program, the next several Fridays will feature reflections from program associates about their experiences with weekly direct service. In today’s post, communications associate Michael Carlson writes about his weekly service experience as a Reading Partner at DC Prep Elementary, a grade…
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Takeaway Wednesday: 8 Characteristics of Discernment
It’s National Volunteer Month with Franciscan Mission Service! Get excited, be inspired, and serve others during April. In today’s post, Program Coordinator Natalie Helfrick writes about the importance of prayerful discernment when considering both service opportunities and life-paths. In the joyful Franciscan spirit, Natalie advises us that the most important aspect of discernment is inviting…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Tim and Cecilia in South Africa
We conclude our series of profiles for National Volunteer Month with Tim and Cecilia Marcy, our most senior missioners. We hope that our posts from the last month have made you aware of the impact of volunteers as well as inspired you to answer your own call to service. Click on image to enlarge The…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Bridget in DC
For those of you who have wondered who at FMS writes our blog posts, tweets, and Facebook posts, meet Bridget Higginbotham. Bridget is the full-time domestic volunteer from Florida who serves as our communications coordinator. In addition to our social media she handles our website, newsletter, videos, photos and design. When Bridget graduated from the…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Daena in DC
Today we profile Daena Padilla who, along with her husband Eduardo, runs Casa San Salvador, our office and hospitality house in Washington DC. They actually met while volunteering with the Claretians in Chicago, and in September they are expecting a baby girl. As house managers, Daena and Eduardo welcome our guests and keep the house clean…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Matt in DC
As program associate, domestic volunteer and Indianapolis native Matt Lorch appreciates the opportunity to work at FMS because it uniquely combines his interest in international service, Franciscan spirituality, nonprofit programming, and living in Washington, DC. Before starting at FMS in June 2011, Matt worked as a student mentor at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis and…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Kitzi in Bolivia
Kitzi Hendricks started her Bolivian mission in January after completing three months of training with us in Washington, DC. Originally from Sacramento, California, she graduated last year Creighton University where she studied psychology and was a member of Pi Beta Phi. Today Kitzi shares about her new ministry with Madre de Dios in Cochabamba, a shelter for…
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National Volunteer Month profile: Evelyn in Virginia
Our annual World Care Benefit and Celebration is not only a way for us to raise money, but a chance to introduce ourselves and our work to new people. In 2009, Evelyn Mercantini was one of those people. “I was so touched by their spirituality and dedication to their work that I wanted to learn…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Lynn in Bolivia
Today we highlight the other half of our couple serving in Bolivia: Lynn Myrick. Lynn was a college English professor for 28 years until she felt called to serve God in a new and different way. After earning her Masters in Theology from Vanderbilt Divinity School, she served as a college chaplain until May 2009 when…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Joel in Bolivia
Husband and wife Joel Vaughn and Lynn Myrick are in their third year of service in Bolivia. Their ministries are primarily in education, using teaching English as a way to connect and be present with the poor. Today we highlight Joel’s current ministries in Cochabamba. Two days a week, Joel teaches English at Carcel Abra, a…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Nora in Bolivia
The green thumb of our missioners has to be Nora Pfeiffer. Most of Nora’s ministries in Cochabamba, Bolivia relate to the environment — from hosting radio shows, helping with retreats, composting, and tending a garden with the children at the Franciscan Social Center where she lives. The University of Richmond graduate is today’s National Volunteer…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Jack in Virginia
Today we highlight the volunteer work of Jack McHale, who has served on the FMS board since spring 2011. “We are all called to serve and use the many gifts that God has given to all of us,” Jack said. “Working on the board for FMS is, today, my way of being ‘part of…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Naomi in DC
Today’s volunteer profile is on the newest member of the FMS family: domestic volunteer Naomi Amsberry. Naomi came to us from Oregon on March 5 to serve as a development associate and office manager.“I was drawn toward the opportunity to live and work in a faith-based, relationship rich environment,” Naomi said. In addition to helping…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Mariam in DC
In today’s volunteer spotlight, get to know Mariam Mitry, our associate director who started as FMS’ first domestic volunteer. “I came to volunteer with FMS because it was the perfect intersection of my passions: my faith in Christ, transformative cross-cultural experiences, and journeying with the poor and the oppressed. The fact that I now do…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Catherine in Cochabamba
After having served in Bolivia from 2002 to 2004 and returning in 2010, Catherine Giller is in her final year of lay mission with FMS. Her primary ministry has been serving in programs focusing on children and youth, including lunch and afterschool programs. She was recently invited to work with Voces Para Latinoamerica and Voces…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Christine in DC
Like most of our domestic volunteers, Christine Landau learned about FMS through the Catholic Volunteer Network. Her interests in humanitarian and environmental awareness and solidarity made FMS a great fit for her. “Volunteering at FMS allows me to encourage others to remember our shared calling to work towards a just distribution of the earth’s resources…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Fr. Martin in San Antonio
Today we spotlight one of our board members, Fr. Martin Day, OFM Conventual who lives in San Antonio with the Province of Our Lady of Consolation. Fr. Martin became a part of FMS several years ago after connecting with some of our missioners-in-training during a class on Catholiciscm in a Global Context at Washington Theological…
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National Volunteer Month Profile: Michael in Bolivia
Michael Redell started his first year of lay mission with FMS in January. Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, his background is in education and coaching. Before coming to FMS, he went on a short-term mission to Peru and taught for a year in Alaska. “Ever since I had volunteered down in Peru…I knew I wanted…
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FMS celebrates National Volunteer Month
April is National Volunteer Month and FMS kicks off our celebration with a message from our executive director, Kim Smolik. From a very young age, my parents gifted with me the experience of volunteering and lessons about the value of serving others. Through our church and community, we volunteered as a family throughout our hometown…
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