Volunteer Spotlight: Joey T.

 

Volunteer Spotlight: Joey T.

How did you get involved with Art & Acceptance?

I’ve been volunteering on and off, in different capacities, basically for my whole life. Last year I joined New York Cares [a nonprofit that matches volunteers with projects], and that was one of the best decisions of my life. They make it really easy to volunteer. A lot of places inadvertently make it hard or unnecessarily complicated to volunteer. If it’s a lot of work, that can demotivate people. So New York Cares is great. My very first project was on my birthday last year -- reading to kids at an after-school program. Art and Acceptance was my second project. I hadn’t really volunteered too much with the homeless prior to Art and Acceptance, but helping them has always been important to me -- even just bringing care packages like snacks and water to the people I see on the street out in my neighborhood every day. The issues I care about most are animals, and people who are homeless.

What keeps you coming back to Art & Acceptance?

What keeps me coming back are the kids who attend the program. I so enjoy seeing them week after week. I am proud of the rapport I’ve been building. I feel honored that they accept me and that they feel comfortable with me. And that they trust me. That’s the biggest thing.

What activities do you participate in as an Art & Acceptance volunteer?

I like to do everything! My favorite role is my current role as the “doorman,” greeting people at the intake table. I get to see every single kid that comes in, they get to know me and I get to know them. A lot of them, throughout the night, actually come back to the table just to hang out at the front with me. That’s my favorite part. Really, I like to do everything… lead creative projects at the Art Table, emcee the Open Mic, whatever I’m asked to do that night.

Over the past year, you’ve helped Art & Acceptance with a ton of much-needed donations. How did you do this?

I’m so lucky to have a network of friends, acquaintances, and family who are good people and generous people. I just started posting about Art & Acceptance on social media a lot, asking friends for clothes for the pop-up shop, for donations, and for Starbucks gift cards in particular.  I started asking people for just $5 if they could do it. Suddenly, so many people, even people I didn’t even know, just sent me $5 over Venmo.  I went to Starbucks and got gift cards, and then ordered items off the Art & Acceptance Amazon wish list with the rest of the money. [The youth we serve love Starbucks - not only for food, but also a place to rest, to get of the elements, and to access WiFi.] Social media was a big factor in sourcing donations, from friends I don’t often see. It goes to show that when you ask, people come through. All those little bits snowball and can make a real difference.

What would you say to someone who’s thinking of volunteering?

I would say: DO IT! Don’t even think twice. The main reason I started with New York Cares was that, since 2016, this country’s been on fire. I was in a downward spiral of getting upset with friends and family about what they did or didn’t support. I needed to do something to lift myself out of that, and to put something good into the world. The world needs a lot of good. Volunteering is a great way to get out of yourself and into the world --if you’re down, if you’re going through troubles, it lifts you up, makes you feel good, makes other people feel good. So don’t hesitate to reach out your hand. You can really make a change in people’s lives.

Thanks so much, Joey, for all you are doing for the kids at Art & Acceptance.

 

 

Tags: interviews, volunteers, art & acceptance