The Angelus – October 2011 – Why I Volunteer – Kris Hall
By Kris Hall
My name is Kristine Hall and I have been volunteering at St. Michael’s as long as I can remember. I began volunteering at school when my daughter started there. She’s now in the 8th grade. Every year I helped out weekly in the classroom as well as often being the party coordinator. I learned quickly that it was an easy way to learn who your child’s friends were; it allowed me to know the teacher better and to understand where she stood amongst her classmates on the learning curve. I now volunteer in the nurse’s office a few hours a week.
Around the time my daughter was in kindergarten, I got a call asking me to help with AprilFest (now SpringFest). I had no idea what it was but decided to offer my help. I told the caller that I’d help “wherever I was needed.” Little did I know she’d put me on the Planning Committee! But the group I met at the first meeting told me it might be fun and they have since become some of my dearest friends. I have been on the Planning Committee for 8 years now. They only ask for a three year commitment. There are so many reasons why I’ve hung around. Mostly it’s the people I volunteer with. Each year we get new people that I treasure both for their friendships and their talent. I also find that I learn something new about the role each year and then want to implement that knowledge into the following years’ event. Planning this event each year is very challenging but very rewarding. We spend hours trying to make it something that the parish and the community will want to attend as well as something that will benefit the church.
My husband grew up in Prior Lake. I moved here from Wisconsin. I didn’t know anyone. Volunteering has allowed me to meet so many people I never would have met. And it’s always funny how many people I meet that knew my husband growing up. When I was in college, my mother volunteered. I could never understand why she’d do actual “work” and not get paid! Now I understand the reward. My mother continues to volunteer in so many venues. I admire that. She and I both find it so rewarding. There are so many great volunteers at St. Michael’s. Each year at SpringFest we have the most wonderful volunteers return to help. Some are stay-at-home parents, some work full time, some have several children. They continue to find the time to lend a hand. I am always so grateful. The best part of volunteering is the opportunity to do it on your schedule. Whether you can offer two hours a year or two hours a week, consider giving your time. You’ll be glad you did.
