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Volunteer, Mother of Jennifer, an Individual Served
“It’s not work. It’s a lot of fun!”
Armed with an ever-present smile and expertise in marketing and event
planning, Sue is the kind of person who sees what needs to be done and jumps right in. For Sue, volunteering means building awareness about mental illness and how Guild’s services help by doing things like:
- participating as a member of our Fundraising Committee
- representing Guild by hosting tables at community events
- planning and organizing Guild functions like our annual Casino Party
- speaking out about her experience as the mother of a child with mental illness
Sue’s daughter, Jennifer, has Bipolar Disorder. After years of struggling to get Jennifer the right kind of treatment and services, Sue discovered Guild while attending a local chamber of commerce event for work. After going through the intake process, Jennifer’s Guild team helped her get needed medications, maintain her employment, and move to a safe, affordable apartment. And, Sue says, Guild helped her “let go and just be a mom.”
Even though Jennifer was able to transition to county resources and no longer receives services from Guild, Sue remains a loyal volunteer.
For Sue, volunteering is a way to “pay it forward.” She describes her role as a means of getting the word out by utilizing her community connections and professional network. According to Sue, “It’s not work. It’s a lot of fun!”
The fun includes standing behind a table at community events — her smile inviting others to approach and get the kind of information she was once so grateful to receive.
