SELFLESS GIVING
When watching Iris Kim work with the seniors in her craft sessions, you can instantly see how much she enjoys her work and how much the seniors love participating. “She’s the best!” says one participant, AJ Paksima.
Iris is one of our hardworking volunteers who has been serving with The Salvation Army at the Citadel Corps Community Center for one year. Iris creates and demonstrates crafts for seniors while also providing a wonderful social outlet for members to talk, laugh, and enjoy one another’s company.
Iris says, “I see joy and excitement in seniors’ faces. They goof around and help and inspire each other.” Her work helps seniors maintain fine motor skills through crafts like beading bracelets and finger painting. She creates an open, inviting environment for seniors to learn and grow. Even after teaching for a year, she still finds something new and exciting every time she volunteers. “They always surprise me!” Iris states. Their jokes and creativity keep Iris on her toes.
In the future, Iris hopes to continue learning about what works best for the seniors and create new and innovative crafts. She is constantly seeking for feedback from participants to ensure the best possible lessons. She says, “When they work together, they create something better.” Her hard work is due to her incredible desire to give back to the community. She is passionate about volunteerism and passing on the blessings that have been given to her.
“In God’s grace, we receive more when we volunteer…I have my ups and downs but by committing myself to this work, I feel I have a purpose,” says Iris. Her selfless nature is what makes the senior crafts so special and rewarding for everyone involved. She puts in extra hours to ensure a wonderful time for the individuals in her classes. Iris is such an important part of The Salvation Army.
Her joyous disposition is infectious for everyone around her. Due to the wonderful experience she has had, she hopes that more people will reach out and volunteer with Salvation Army in the future. We are so grateful to have Iris as a volunteer!