What followed was, quite possibly one of the most enjoyable interviews I've ever had. I wasn't particularly nervous (which is very odd for me) and I kind of felt like I was "at home." At the end of the interview, I felt pretty confident, but not confident enough to say I was going to be the next Volunteer Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley. In fact, that tiny bit of doubt spiraled into a feeling that I should just forget about the opportunity altogether. But, all in all, I had a good time interviewing with some pretty awesome people.
About a week later, my phone rang and it was Brian. I almost didn't answer because I felt sure he was going to tell me that they'd hired someone else. After contemplating for a moment and working up my best, "Thanks for the opportunity (anyway)," schpiel, I answer the phone and, to my surprise, I was offered the job.
I can not tell you how elated I was just to be offered the job of Volunteer Coordinator in the first place, much less how incredibly blessed I feel every single day I get to come to work here. I worked for Mill Mountain Theatre for 5 years starting as part-time box office help to full-time box office help to Group Sales Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator and, eventually, House Manager.
To be able to get back to doing something I truly love--working with volunteers--has been the greatest gift I could have ever asked for professionally. I have always felt that people who volunteer their time to help others are some of the absolute very best people in the whole world. Volunteers don't have to do good things. They do good things because they genuinely want to, and, the organization in which that is most evident, in my opinion (since I've worked here), is Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat work is not your average volunteer gig. Habitat volunteers are doing seriously HARD WORK for as many as 6 hours a day or more! Our core volunteers, The Builder's Club, often do even more than 6 hours a day for 2 days a week. All for the greater good--and they take such pride in what they do. It amazes me. I have never in
Why This? Why Now? Why Me?
My First Year with Habitat
By Amy Alls, Volunteer Coordinator HFHRV
A year ago, I walked up those awful stairs to the second floor of the Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley building for the first time. I was initially greeted by an adoring, fat cat who practically followed me around the entire time. Then, I was greeted by Brian Clark, who I knew as "Rowan's Dad" from my previous job at Honey Tree Early Learning Center. Shortly thereafter, Brian and I were joined by Karen Mason, Jeff Slinger and Chris Bittinger. They all sat at this tiny table in the Development Office and I was officially surrounded.