March 2023 Volunteer of the Month

April 28, 2023

Elaine S. is the March 2023 volunteer of the month

During the heart of the pandemic, Elaine S. was searching for community-based volunteer opportunities; however, few organizations were accepting new, in-person volunteers at the time. In February of 2021, a friend told Elaine about the National Runaway Safeline (NRS) and our remote training and volunteer shifts, and Elaine eagerly got involved. She was taking a gap year between high school and college and wanted to use this time to help others.

Through her experience with NRS, Elaine has learned about the magnitude of the youth homelessness crisis as well as the mental health issues that so many young people are facing today. She says the volunteer training taught her valuable skills, such as non-judgmental listening, which she tries to apply to her daily interactions with friends, family, professors, peers and strangers. Elaine finds that her experiences with NRS are helping her be more understanding and compassionate.

Today, as a sophomore at Dartmouth, Elaine participates in a peer support group that provides mental health resources to students and encourages open and honest discussion about the challenges students are facing. She also volunteers with Dream, a nonprofit that brings mentoring programs to kids living in New Hampshire’s Upper Valley area.

Elaine is studying environmental studies and is a member of Dartmouth’s club tennis team. She hopes to eventually work in clean energy.

We appreciate Elaine’s commitment to NRS and are pleased to honor her as the Volunteer of the Month for March 2023!

Share This Post

Recent Posts

May 2023 Volunteer of the Month

Prior to the pandemic, Drew volunteered at homeless shelters and with a hospice organization. When those opportunities were no longer available, Drew sought a new meaningful experience where he could give back – from home. He recalls that NRS was one of the few organizations that was accepting new volunteers at the time, and he recognized serving as an NRS Crisis Center volunteer and interacting directly with youth would be a fulfilling experience.

Prioritizing Mental Health for Children and Youth in Foster Care: National Foster Care Month

May is National Foster Care Month, a time to recognize foster parents, family members, volunteers, policymakers, child welfare professionals and others who help children and youth in foster care find permanent homes and connections. The theme of this year’s month-long campaign – Strengthening Minds, Uplifting Families – reinforces the need to focus on the mental health of children and youth in foster care.

Recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is recognized as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of protecting children from abuse and neglect. It is also a time to join together to promote the safety and well-being of all children and families and to recognize the child-welfare professionals and allies who work tirelessly to protect children.