The Impact of Volunteering During National Volunteer Week

Meet the Sisterhood of the Second Hand Pants

As we step into National Volunteer Week, Foster Forward pauses to honor the unsung heroes who breathe life into our mission—our devoted volunteers. From mentors shaping futures one conversation at a time to those who are fixtures at our storefront every week along with the energetic groups that rally around our annual drives and home renovations, each volunteer is a vital thread in the fabric of our community.

This week, we spotlight a remarkable group, fondly known as the “Sisterhood of the Second Hand Pants.” These women, through their consistent dedication, not only sort through donations and prepare essential goods for foster families at our Storefront, but also forge an unbreakable bond of friendship and mutual support.

The members of the Sisterhood come from different walks of life, but are all brought together by their shared passion for helping youth in foster care and the personal connections they make with the families who come through the doors of our Storefront. Nancy, who has been volunteering at the Storefront for five years, shared, “As I kept volunteering, I started to get to know the community and got involved with people who I see on a regular basis… It’s a great cause, and once you meet the people you support, it touches your heart.”

This Sisterhood has many inspiring stories to share regarding their volunteer experiences that have touched their hearts in their 20+ years of combined experiences. One situation that stuck out in Jill’s mind is when a foster parent will come to the Storefront the day before they pick up a newborn at the hospital, coming in with nothing and leaving with a trunk full of essentials. Nancy reflected on the time that she and her husband had the chance to do a complete bedroom makeover for a foster child, everything from flooring to stocking the closet. After this experience and getting to know the foster family better, she was eventually invited to their adoption day celebration. Jane recalled a time when she was playing with a foster child at the Storefront while his mother was shopping. As they left the Storefront, the little boy said goodbye to Jane, surprising his mother as this was the first time he had spoken. Then there’s Lori, whose engagement deepened after witnessing firsthand the profound needs of foster families. "Early on, I helped a young woman who had taken in three kin children, in addition to her own. All they had were the clothes on their backs," Lori recalls. "Seeing what these families give, it’s impressive and motivating."

While these moving experiences ignite our volunteers' passion for supporting those in the foster community, it is also their personal connections that keep them coming back every week. As Jane explained, “The Sisterhood of the Second Hand Pants is really a bonus to volunteering… It is a great group of women, and everybody is really committed to coming here, and we are all here for the same purpose. We are happy to be together, and we are also committed to serving this organization.” Nancy has come to appreciate not only their shared sense of commitment to Foster Forward but also to each other. She reflected, “It's nice to have that support of women supporting women. I really feel like it's a strong group of women that I can ask anything or have support from.”

Their time together is sprinkled with light moments too. “It can also get very, very silly unpacking donations... sometimes what is inside is very interesting, so we have a lot of fun with that,” reflects Jill, highlighting the joy found in simple tasks when shared with friends.

The Sisterhood’s unique blend of consistent service, friendship, and fun has not only transformed the storefront into a hub of activity and support but also illustrates the broader impact of volunteering. It is about filling immediate needs, yes, but also about building community and connections that sustain us all.

Let’s all take a moment during this National Volunteer Week to appreciate every volunteer, like those in the Sisterhood of the Second Hand Pants, whose collective actions propel our mission forward. Their dedication reminds us that every small act of kindness adds up to a monumental difference in the lives of foster children and families.

Together, we are Foster Forward. Thank you, volunteers, for your heart, your time, and your unwavering support.