Mackenzie is in the white shirt & purple shorts. Next to fellow leaders at Camp in 2011.
Mackenzie is going to be a senior at Oak Ridge High School. She got involved with Hands4Hope after hearing about it from her friend.
“Since I started with Hands4Hope I have realized that giving my time to others is more rewarding and more fulfilling than anything I could have received from someone else,” she said.
Mackenzie is one of 3 Hands4Hope youth that is involved in a mentoring program at Hope House in Placerville. She volunteers her time twice a month to interact with kids from a troubled past. “My favorite Outreach activity is mentoring; I absolutely love going to see my three young friends there. Simply knowing that I am making an impact on the kids' lives makes me love going back to visit them.” She adds, “I also get to act like a seven year old without being questioned by anyone.” {To read her touching blog post about her experience mentoring, click here}
Mackenzie is also one of our leaders for the Oak Ridge High School club. She joined her leadership peers at Camp last summer. “I learned so much in those three days on how to become a good leader and how to make a difference that others would look up to.”
“Working with Hands4Hope has definitely made me come out of my comfort zone,” she said. “A year ago I would have been so shy when approaching new people; I never would have had enough confidence to go up to someone that I didn't know and ask them how their day was going. [It's] taught me to come out of my box and be a more confident person.”
Mackenzie said she plans to volunteer forever and Hands4Hope has helped her make decisions for her future. “I am already planning to volunteer for the rest of my life! I have even thought about changing my career path to a nurse so that I can help people daily.”
“There really is nothing in the world like volunteering. Just knowing that I am affecting another person's life in a positive way leaves me feeling so great inside.”
Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to Hands4Hope, Mackenzie! We appreciate you.
Participating in a trust activity at Camp with friend, Kirstie.
Painting the Gracie Bus in Placerville.
Helping out at the Spring Food Bank Blitz in 2012
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