Eastside Baby Corner
When I came to the U.S. from India more than 20 years ago, volunteering was a convenient way to keep myself occupied and meet people.
My family and I have volunteered with Eastside Baby Corner (EBC) for more than seven years. I came to know the organization through my family’s Sunday cultural study school. A couple of people from the school volunteered with EBC on the first Saturday of every month, and my family decided to join them. When we first started volunteering, it seemed like a tedious job to get up early on a Saturday morning, get dressed, and go volunteer. Over the years, it became part of our Saturday routine; it is part of our life now.
As an EBC volunteer, I have made goody bags for kids at the holidays, participated in diaper and winter clothing drives, sorted through many toys, sorted clean and washed clothes, and made care bags for newborn babies. My family’s specialty is sorting clean diapers. As the years have passed, we have motivated more volunteers from our Sunday school to join us.
EBC is a great place to volunteer. It is close to where we live, and the thought we might make a difference in a child’s life with a simple act, like making goody bags filled with toys or bags of baby supplies, is really satisfying to me. The organization’s dedicated staff are easy to work with and will help you find a volunteer activity that appeals to you. EBC is still operating during the pandemic, trying to fulfill a variety of needs in our community. Currently, donation drives are the easiest and safest way to volunteer with them.
Volunteering with EBC has made me grateful for everything I have in my life. I have had the opportunity to meet and build relationships with wonderful people who work tirelessly behind-the-scenes to make miracles happen for kids and families in need. Volunteering is a simple way to give back to society and bring smiles to the faces of vulnerable children and families.
For EBC volunteer information, visit babycorner.org/how-to-volunteer.
Photo: From left to right: Daughter, Neeti, Jyothy, Jyothy’s husband, Praveen, and their son, Pavan.
