BY ELIZABETH EGAN, STAFF WRITER
Every year, the Franciscan Center For Social Concern holds a Giving Tuesday fundraising campaign on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Students have already started setting up their fundraising pages in preparation for Nov. 30 The donations make a significant impact on the organization’s ability to fund its many programs. The programs include The Warming House, Bona Buddies, Break the Bubble, SBU at the SPCA, Silver Wolves and more. All of these programs do great work and while the monetary donations are crucial to their functions, so is the donation of time. These programs could not run without volunteers and for those interested in doing volunteer work while on campus, there is no shortage of opportunity.
In the weeks leading up to Giving Tuesday one St. Bonaventure student who stands out as a particularly amazing volunteer will be featured in this series on Fridays. This week, that volunteer is Caitlin Miller .
Caitlin, an MBA student from Rome, N.Y., volunteers for the Silver Wolves program. The program lets students develop relationships with residents of assisted living facilities by visiting Field of Dreams in Allegany, and Eden Heights in Olean and spending time with the residents. She heard about Silver Wolves at the club fair and has been volunteering for the program since her freshman year.
Volunteering was not new to Caitlin. She hosted and donated at American Red Cross Blood Drives and was involved in many other volunteer events in high school because she was the treasurer of her class.
Lucy Sauter, who was in charge of the program when Caitlin signed up, was one of her main influences as she continued to volunteer. She was welcoming when they first met at the club fair and was really sweet to Caitlin whenever she volunteered. Her kindness made her want to keep coming back.
Caitlin’s favorite part about volunteering at Silver Wolves is seeing the faces of the residents light up when the volunteers walk into the room. The residents are grateful for the time the volunteers spend with them and the volunteers can tell how much it means to them. It also means a lot to the volunteers knowing they are making a difference.
Through her time at Silver Wolves, Caitlin has learned the importance of volunteering. Caitlin also said that there is a lot to learn from the elderly. One thing that became obvious during her time in the Silver Wolves club, is to go visit your grandparents while you have the chance. Sit and talk with them and do not stare at your phone screen the whole time. It means everything to them.
To anyone considering volunteering at Silver Wolves, Caitlin says to come volunteer with a smile and your listening ears on and you will make someone’s day—guaranteed. Thanks Caitlin for all the time that you have donated to the Silver Wolves program! Interested in volunteering like Caitlin? Check out the Franciscan Center For Social Concerns website for more information or reach out to Caitlin directly at millercm18@bonaventure.edu.
