Volunteers founded Hubbard House in 1976, and today our volunteers continue to serve a vital role in every aspect of the agency. Why are volunteers so important to Hubbard House? Volunteers contribute their time and energy, their ideas and their ideals. They increase our visibility in the community, expand our capacity to provide services, and send a strong message of caring to our clients.
It is because of the support and generosity given by Hubbard House volunteers and donors that we are able to provide services to more than 6,000 women, children, and men annually and ensure that their hope for peace, dreams of tomorrow, and strength for their children are not lost.
This volunteer spotlight focuses on the wonderful employees of Heinz Portion Control who hosted a birthday party for the children staying at the Hubbard House Shelter to celebrate all January birthdays.
At the party the children enjoyed decorating and eating cookies, playing carnival-style games, and receiving goody bags as parting gifts. We asked Joan Nash, Heinz Portion Control employee and volunteer project leader, a few questions about their experience volunteering at Hubbard House:
Why did your organization decide to donate time and resources to Hubbard House? Hubbard House was one of our Community Grant Recipients in May 2011. In addition to the grant that Hubbard House received from our company, the Jacksonville Heinz team has wanted to partner with Hubbard House on a volunteer/community service event and the January Children’s Birthday Party was the perfect opportunity for our team to get involved.
What made you get connected with Hubbard House? Our Jacksonville Heinz team was so excited to help out and sponsor the January Children’s Birthday Party at the Hubbard House when the opportunity became available to us. While our team supports a variety of organizations throughout the year, we are passionate about helping children and improving their life experiences. This was a great opportunity for us to work with children and bring some joy and happiness into their lives.
What has your experience volunteering at Hubbard House taught you? I thought it best to quote some of the Heinz team members…
“Volunteering at this event taught me about the issues surrounding domestic violence especially the impact on the children who suffer physical abuse and emotional abuse. At the birthday party, the joy on their faces brought me an unimaginable experience in that I became an instrument for temporary relief of their sadness.”
“Volunteering at Hubbard House taught me that we succeeded in making each and every one of those children that attended the birthday celebration feel like the party was personalized for them. … It was a tremendous joy throwing the party for them!”
“Volunteering at Hubbard House allowed me to see the great work Hubbard House is doing for these children as they deal with the trauma of domestic violence. The birthday party we threw allowed the children to forget about their own traumas and have some fun for a couple of hours!”
“Volunteering at Hubbard House was extremely rewarding. … It was rewarding to make them forget what they are going through for a few hours.”
Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities available at Hubbard House or contact Tracy Knight at (904) 354-0076 ext. 251 or tknight@hubbardhouse.org.
If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship please call the Hubbard House 24-hour domestic violence hotline at (904) 354-3114 or (800) 500-1119. Hubbard House can help.
ABOUT HUBBARD HOUSE: Founded as the first domestic violence shelter in Florida in 1976, Hubbard House is a certified, comprehensive domestic violence center providing programs and services to more than 6,000 women, children, and men annually in Duval and Baker counties. While Hubbard House is most known for its emergency shelter, the agency also provides extensive adult and youth outreach services, school-based education, therapeutic childcare, batterers’ intervention programs, court advocacy and volunteer and community education opportunities. Visit www.hubbardhouse.org to learn more.