Volunteer Spotlight: Katelyn

Volunteer Spotlight: Katelyn Blanchard

 “I really love volunteering; it’s my thing.”

For this week’s Volunteer Spotlight, Susan wanted to highlight Katelyn Blanchard who has been with the Arc more than a year.  She is currently the outreach chair for the sorority Phi Beta Chi.  She has come to really enjoy and benefit from her time at the ARC.  Instead of contributing money to the national philanthropy cause, Bethesda Learning Community-  the Phi Beta Chi chapter at UNC sponsors Amanda, an ARC participant primarily through cooking class as well as having volunteers take Amanda to other ARC events.

This week's flowers were beautifully festive!!!

 Katelyn’s involvement with the ARC began when she was elected Philanthropy Chair.  She states that initially came to the ARC just to try it out and determine whether or not she felt that she fit in at the ARC, but within a few weeks “I came to love the ARC and volunteering here.”  

 When asked what her favorite part of volunteering is, she states that her favorite part is seeing the progress and talent in all of the participants; “It is really rewarding to contribute to their success and to facilitate their learning.”

 Katelyn volunteers in other places as well. She also spends time serving the community in other places, such as the Children’s Cancer Clinic, the Women’s Information Center, and the Pediatric Playroom at UNC Hospitals.  With her sorority, she has also volunteered with the Get Real and Heel program.  One of the projects she was most passionate about was the mission trip she went on with a mission trip with the Ukraine Connections Ministries.

Such beautiful combinations of Christmas colors.   

 When asked about why she wants to give back to people with developmental disabilities she states that her first experience in working with children with developmental disabilities really changed her as a person.  In her senior year of high school, she travelled to the Ukraine where the volunteered in an orphanage.  They helped with arts and crafts, and Katelyn noticed that one of the girls had been left out and decided to try to help the girl color.  One of the teachers tried to stop her and said “She cannot do what the other children do.” Katelyn told me that she was completely taken aback and that it gave her the drive to help people with developmental disabilities and “it definitely makes me believe in the goals of the ARC.”

 In that respect, I asked Katelyn how working with the ARC had changed her views and goals, and she told me that volunteering with the ARC has definitely made her consider what she wants to do with her future.  “I’m not sure if I want to be a social worker or if I want to go into public health but this has definitely opened a window.” She states that she has been so inspired by the work of the ARC that she has even considered working at the ARC-she stated that though she isn’t sure of a specific career yet but working at the ARC has definitely influenced her future goals and aspirations.

 When asked if she had any suggestions for people who want to get involved in volunteering, she said “Give it a chance and try it out.  If it isn’t for you then you will know and be able to spend your time in a place that is a good fit.  But you will be surprised-the people who receive your help, like the participants at the ARC really appreciate what volunteers do, making their day-to-day lives easier.  I definitely think that everyone should at least try it.”

When asked if she had any other things she wanted to talk about, she had the following comments:

 "I feel that every individual has God-given talents and gifts and those gifts represent our purpose, our sense of fulfillment. By not being giving the participants of the ARC the opportunity to use their gifts, the world would be losing a lot of happiness and beauty that comes out of what they do for their community and what they achieve through the different programs available through the ARC. These individuals are able to develop a sense of self-worth and individual achievement through what they do at the ARC and I think that is the ARC's greatest asset to our community, is allowing these individuals to meet their full potential. <3"