I Am A Volunteer With The Children’s Museum Because…
Shashi Aggrawal, mother of two and grandmother of two
All my adult life I have always done volunteer work. When my daughters were in school, I helped the teachers in the classroom and chaperoned activities and field trips. I have also done a lot with the Asian community, supporting various events like the Asian Festival. I have also volunteered with different organizations like the Boys’ Club and PBS.
I have been volunteering every week with the Children’s Museum for 5 or 6 years and I also did cooking demonstrations at the old facility at Navy Hill. One of the best aspects of this work is the flexibility. I usually come in on Wednesdays, but if I need to come another day or time or if I have to skip a week because of a conflict, that’s not a problem. It really means a lot to me to be able to give my time according to my own convenience without having to worry so much about my schedule.
I love to volunteer in the art studio because there is always something to do. I usually cut fabric or other types of material that have been donated. It’s very relaxing, and I usually am able to sit with other volunteers and socialize, so that’s enjoyable. The staff is very nice and so appreciative of what volunteers do. It makes you feel like you’re giving your time for a worthwhile reason.
I have two grandchildren, a girl (5) and a boy (6), and I love bringing them to the museum when they visit. My grandson loves the grocery store and the water play area, while my granddaughter loves the art studio best. It’s so important for children to have a place like this, where they can exercise their creativity in an unstructured way. It’s very gratifying and rewarding to be a part of it.
Sigourney Bailey, student at Open High School
I just started volunteering at the Children’s Museum in March of 2008. I have a friend who also goes to Open High who’s been coming for a few months, and she kept telling me what a great place the museum is, so I wanted to find out for myself.
I have lived in Richmond all my life and I have really great memories of going to the old museum as a child with my mom and my cousin. My favorite area was the art room. I still have my very first get-well card that I made for my aunt there.
I do a lot of volunteering through my school. They really encourage community service and I have to get 80 hours completed to graduate. But I really just wanted to volunteer here for the experience and for the memories it brings back. I love it when little kids speak to me and smile. It just gives me a great feeling to be able to have that kind of interaction and help wherever I can. I love to act like a kid, and the museum is a place where I can do that.
Volunteering is an unselfish activity, unlike so many things these days. The world is so focused on money. There are a lot of really nice people who work and volunteer at the museum, and I think you can really tell that they do it from the heart. There’s a lot of joy in it and it gives me joy to be a part of it.
Sarah E. Cardwell, Exceptional Education Teacher, Hermitage High School
I have been an exceptional education teacher at Hermitage High School for seven years. My class is made up of students with severe and profound disabilities. It is important that my students learn job skills during their high school years so that they may gain employment after they graduate.
The Children’s Museum has provided my students with such an opportunity. The Museum has afforded my students valuable vocational training, as well as opportunities to expand their social skills. There are a variety of tasks for the students to perform. These tasks cover a large span of skills so that all my students may participate.
Not only are the jobs valuable, but so are the social interactions my students are exposed to. My students must communicate with staff about what job they would like to do, they must ask for more materials and indicate when they are finished.
In addition, my students and the general public have a chance to know each other. At times, parents and their children with come over to the work table and interact with my students. This gives my students additional practice to develop and maintain appropriate social skills. This also gives the public a chance to build a comfort level interacting with those with disabilities. This is a positive experience for everyone.
Pam Copeland, CMoR member, nurse and mom of three
I have twin five-year-old boys and a nine-year-old daughter, so the Children’s Museum has been a part of our lives for several years. We’ve been members and have attended tons of birthday parties and special events here. It’s always been a great place for my family.
I knew the day would come when my kids would all be in school, and it’s been in my mind that I would use any free time I had to give back to the museum. I’ve been volunteering here now for 7 or 8 months and it’s really been a great experience. I’ve always been very impressed with the museum’s mission and its educational agenda and I wanted to be a part of making all that happen.
First of all, it’s very rewarding. It’s a great feeling to be involved with a place that does so much for the community and it doesn’t really matter to me what I do here. I do whatever is needed, whether it’s helping in the art studio or assisting with the toddler activities or just cleaning up. I’m a nurse part-time and I’ve taught Sunday school and volunteered with a rescue squad, and I think that helping others is just part of who I am. Interacting with the kids here helps me to appreciate how much I have and how fortunate my family is. There’s a sense of unconditional satisfaction that you get from volunteering that doesn’t have anything to do with what you get in return.
The museum is for everyone, it benefits every child. You can volunteer here with a lot of pride and experience real personal fulfillment as a result. I’ve encouraged people I know to get involved and I would recommend it to everyone. It’s a place where you can take all your values and beliefs and communicate what is important to you through interaction with others and really make a difference. That’s what’s really great about CMoR.
Kristie Edmunds, VCU student majoring in Biology, minoring in Chemistry.
I have been volunteering at the Children’s Museum since the beginning of March 2008 and I have enjoyed every minute of it! When I was little, I remember visiting the old facility at Navy Hill with my family. There was a climbing tower that I used to love. I was also fascinated with the doctor’s office and who knows? Maybe that’s one reason why I’m pre-med now!
I have the best memories of this place, so it just feels perfect to now be involved as a volunteer. There are great things going on all over the museum and I love being a part of it all. The museum is a place I can come and have a blast and help at the same time. I’ve spent most of my time in the art studio and I really love seeing every child being able to express who they are as a unique human being. You never know what they are going to make but you know it’s always going to be good.
Volunteering allows you to see what other people need and respond to their concerns. Whatever I can do to help makes me feel that I have put my time to good use. I think the best thing that I bring to the museum is my smile, my willingness to help, and my ability to just make the most out of every single day. The only part I don’t enjoy is how sad it makes me when I have to leave!
Even though I’ve got a lot going on in my life, this is an experience I want to make time for. Once, when I was volunteering at a church activity, I had an opportunity to talk with a 13-year-old boy. I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up and he told me, I’m not going to grow up. Being here makes me realize what an important role CMoR can serve for kids. It can help them develop the imagination they need to see beyond their own situation, to imagine a future for themselves. I’m really proud to be a part of something like this.
Ja’Tia Hamlin, Virginia State University student majoring in chemistry
I have lived in Richmond all my life and so I have always felt very strongly about the value of volunteer service and giving back to this community that is such a big part of who I am. If we don’t care about our own community, who is going to care about it? I have a younger sister and so part of my motivation also has to do with my responsibility to her as a role model. I am somebody who can have a strong influence in her life and one way I can do that is through volunteering.
I have been involved with the museum since March of 2008 and it is such a rewarding place to be. It’s a lot of fun, but more importantly, it is a place where learning takes place. Here kids are inspired to reach for more and I am so proud to be able to be a part of that. Kids need to know that there are people who care about them. They need to know they can be more than what they see on TV. I think the museum can open their minds up to possibilities they never even knew were there, and I think that I have the kind of personality that helps kids to do that.
One day I was helping a group of special needs kids with an art project, and as they were leaving, one of the kids gave me a hug. The appreciation that you get here is overwhelming and it really makes your time here seem so meaningful and so worthwhile. I think it’s a very fun and fulfilling place to be.
Meredith Harris, former CMoR intern and current CMoR employee
I began volunteering at the Children’s Museum of Richmond (CMoR) in high school through a service club that I was involved in. We volunteered at multiple places but the Children’s Museum was always my favorite. I went off to college for four years and studied several subjects with hopes of working in a museum some day. Once I got back to Richmond I thought I would volunteer to get experience as I looked for a job. My first stop was at the Children’s Museum and it turned out that they had an internship available. I began a seven-week internship in January. I could not believe how fast it flew by; each day was a new and exciting adventure with both the staff and the children! As the seven weeks drew to a close the opportunity arose for me to stay on as a staff member here at the Museum. I have to say, I was thrilled to be an intern but am even happier being a permanent member of the CMoR family.
Being a native of Richmond, I have many fond memories of (CMoR). In fact, some of my earliest memories are of playing at the Children’s Museum. My family frequented the old Navy Hill sight, spending hours in the grocery store, TV station and doctor’s office. My parents keep a photo album that has pictures of my brother and me each year in the shark jaw. I love that I now have an excuse to come to the museum everyday and see the children experience the same things I did as a child!
I have always been committed to volunteering and the extension of an internship was an amazing experience. Interning let me see a new outlet to volunteering, helping behind the scenes and allowing me to understand the big picture of how the Children’s Museum collaboratively works together to execute the mission. Seeing the children play and watching their imaginations grow is priceless and I feel very fortunate to be a part of such a wonderful organization!
Shih-Yung Huang, student at Pocahontas Middle School
I’ve been a volunteer with the Children’s Museum since November of 2007. My family moved here seven years ago from Taiwan. I was seven and I remember coming here and having a blast in the art studio. Most of the time when I volunteer, that’s where I like to spend my time.
My older brother is 18 now, and he has always volunteered for a lot of different things. I’ve always looked up to him as a role model, so I think my motivation to volunteer comes from him. People I know are surprised that I do this for fun and not just to get hours for school. But I really love working with the kids. The staff here is really nice. They talk to you and try to get you involved and make sure you know what to do. It’s a good place to make new friends. It’s been a good experience.
I believe that volunteering gives people a better perspective about what is important. I feel good being able to encourage the kids. It’s so fun to watch them express their ideas creatively. And it makes you feel like you are a part of the community. I really believe that volunteering can change lives. It’s something that everybody benefits from.
Cheryl Jennings, VCU AMERICORPS Team Leader
I decided to get involved with the Children’s Museum in January of 2008 and I truly love it. I have been committed for a long time to community service. My husband was in the military and it was just understood that everyone would help out in whatever way was needed. With three kids, I always served as a “classroom mom” and it wasn’t considered as volunteering. It was just what you did.
I believe that volunteering feeds the soul. It says to the world, “There are people who are decent and who care.” It says, “Let me show you that love and kindness exist!” If you are thinking that you are not worth something – volunteer and you will be amazed. It allows you to give a great gift and to get an even greater gift in return. Volunteering for me is about being there for people, encountering people one-on-one and giving whatever small thing is needed at that moment. A smile. A gesture of encouragement. There are always ways to help.
As an AMERICORPS team leader, I try to communicate all this to young people and help them to understand that they can make a difference. Our team is assigned to the local public schools, and many of the kids we tutor struggle with very difficult situations and have complex needs. As I work to complete my degree in social work, I also see a lot of people struggling. For me each day is a gift, and what better way to utilize that gift than to nurture others in need. Volunteering is just another expression of that.
One time I came with a field trip to the museum and I was so impressed with the environment and the mission. I thought, “This is where I want to be!” The museum understands the importance of learning through play, the importance of interaction and engagement. It’s so easy to be in an environment that allows me to express who I really am and what I am about. I like to think that I bring a presence of compassion to the museum. I came to give, but what I get – the kids, their smiles & their laughter – that’s what makes it worthwhile.
Niccolo Seligmann, Maggie Walker student
I remember visiting the old Children’s Museum as a little kid when it was down near MCV. There was a jungle gym and I remember very vividly hitting my head on it one day. I think my favorite area was the stage – I loved making up plays and doing performances. I also came with my class to this location when it was being built and we got to see some of the exhibits like the Tour de Tummy under construction.
The great memories I have of the Children’s Museum are what motivated me to apply as a volunteer here. I’ve been volunteering in the art studio since December of 2007 and I’ve had a fantastic time. Although I have to get community service hours for school in order to graduate, I really volunteer here because I have such a wonderful time. I like to think I am pretty good at making friends with everybody, so every experience I have here is different and fun.
One time I was helping these two kids do a project in the art studio and we had such a blast together. At the end of the day, they gave me a portrait they had made and it meant so much to me. The mom thanked me for taking such good care of them. I like to think that I helped create a great memory for those kids of that day that they will remember for a long time. And maybe one day they will want to volunteer here and pass that memory along.
What I love best about the museum is the way it inspires kids to be so creative and so imaginative. It’s so important for kids to have that in their lives. As I see it, inspiring kids is part of the volunteer’s job here. It means a lot to feel like I am a part of something bigger than myself. Tikkun Olam is a concept in Judaism that means “healing the world.” I really believe that we can’t accomplish that without the work of volunteers.
Devin Staggers, Thomas Jefferson High School student
I have been volunteering with the Children’s Museum since July of 2007. I come in every Saturday and help out in the exhibit areas, wherever I am needed. Mostly I interact with the kids who are visiting the museum and I really like it.
I am in the IB (International Baccalaureate) program at TJ and I need to get community service hours in order to graduate. But I already have fulfilled my requirements. I volunteer at the museum because I like to do it. It’s really fun and I really enjoy being here and interacting with the kids.
I used to visit the museum all the time as a little kid, with my daycare. I have a lot of memories of playing here. My favorite area was the tree house, and it still is. I have an eight-year-old brother, and sometimes we come so he can play. He likes to be here too.
We have a lot of homework and projects in IB. For me, coming here is not like something I have to do, it’s just plain fun. I get to act like a kid, and also be a role model for other kids. I think I help the museum as a volunteer because I help the visitors out. I keep the kids occupied, assist them when they need it and play with them when they want it. I think it’s good for kids to be able to look up to older kids and maybe they see me and get the idea that volunteering is something they might want to do. Everybody should volunteer!
Diana Wagner, VCU student majoring in sculpture
I took a museum studies class and had to write a paper on the challenges to museums in the 21st century. I visited the Children’s Museum as part of my research for that paper and I was really fascinated and impressed with what I observed, so I wanted to get more involved.
I’ve been volunteering in the art studio every week for a year now, and it’s really been a great experience for me. I’m a sculpture major and I work a lot with mixed media, so what I do with the museum is really relevant to that. I’ve volunteered at other places around Richmond, but this is the experience that has really complemented my studies the best.
In the art studio, there’s always something new going on, a new challenge for me to apply myself to and I like that. It’s not like a job where you have to follow the same routine day after day. The environment is so free and unstructured and stimulating. I often get asked to create new projects or develop new ideas for activities, so it’s a great opportunity for me to stretch myself creatively and I’ve been very productive.
It’s great to be in a place where I have so many chances to observe kids express themselves using different materials. It’s a constant source of fascination for me to see how spontaneously they apply their imaginations to create new combinations of materials and colors and textures.
Volunteering allows you to discover what you’re good at, what you’re passionate about, and it allows you to make an investment that is completely personal. I think it’s so important for students to take the opportunity to explore the world through volunteering and see where it leads them. As I prepare to graduate, I know that the art studio has become an important part of who I am and will be. It’s been very worthwhile!
Conan Zhao, student at Moody Middle School
I started volunteering with the Children’s Museum in September of 2007. At first, I just want to get the hours I needed for school, but once I started volunteering, it was so fun I just wanted to keep coming. I have some friends from school who volunteer here too. It’s more fun when you can be with your friends.
My family used to visit the museum when I was little, and we even have a picture of me standing between the “ears” on the front plaza. My favorite thing was the bike that you could pedal and make the light bulb light up. I usually help out in the exhibit areas, but I just helped out with my first birthday party and that was really a lot of fun too.
I do a lot of babysitting and I really enjoy being with kids. So this is a really good place for me to be. Volunteering here has helped me to improve my communication skills, and it’s given me a lot of good experience. When you volunteer, you get ideas about what you want to do in the future and what kind of career you might be good at. People shouldn’t look at it as an obligation. It’s really just a great way to explore what you like and what matters to you.
Just watching the kids play and have fun is the best thing. And if I can influence them and maybe be a role model for them, then that’s even better. I think that if everyone volunteered, the world would be a lot better off. There are lots of ways to help out in the community – and the Children’s Museum is one of the best places to help yourself and help others. I really recommend it!
