We 🧡 Our Volunteers

By Carissa Hodgson, Director of Programs and Community Outreach

Let me treat you to the origin story of our Volunteer Program.

When I came on as Director of Programs in the spring of 2022 I became the second staff member. We were a tiny but mighty team of two. We had SO MANY ideas; we had SO MUCH we wanted to do, and we simply didn’t have enough time or hands. A driving force for finding volunteers was to enable our creative flow and goals. Delegating major tasks to committed volunteers was a necessary component of our growth. There was already an amazing group of volunteers assisting with fundraising, development and programs, which was essential to the growth of our thriving organization. Having transitioned from another nonprofit that required a strong volunteer base, I knew that building a larger volunteer network would be key to our success. 

Within the first year as Director I was meeting with people from all over the country who were inspired by Bright Spot Network and looking to do more to give back. Getting to hear their stories and passion was perhaps the most enjoyable part of starting my position. I was working with a teenager who was developing programs for kids as part of their Girl Scout Project; having virtual coffee dates with a Director of a college Child Life Program to coordinate a team of graduate students; working with a local small bookstore to assist with our Bright Reads program. I could feel the threads coming together to weave a new layer of community–it was a warm and snuggly blanket that wrapped around the families participating in our programs. 

THREE WOMEN, SOME BOOKS AND A BASEMENT: A BRIGHT READS BACKSTORY

The first program we needed to transition to the tender loving hands of a volunteer team was Bright Reads. 

For the first year of my job I was in charge of processing all orders, ordering books, and getting packages sent to each family. While this was reasonable for 15 orders a month, the program grew quickly and I could no longer keep up with over 50 orders a month. As we started brainstorming solutions, I knew a key element of a successful transition would require a highly organized person to head the team. I immediately thought of reaching out to a volunteer I had worked with at Gilda’s Club Madison who did wonders at managing our library. I knew she was pretty busy living-it-up in retirement with her wool business, but figured she may have some friends who fit the bill. She was so excited by our mission and free book program that she decided to make room in her life to co-lead this new role with a good friend with whom she used to work at American Girl. From our first meeting together I KNEW these women had what we were looking for–they could tackle big-picture planning of developing a new program, while having all the attention to detail to manage specific tasks and processes.

I visit her “warehouse” from time to time and giggle to see that her pool table has become a work space filled with children’s books about cancer, printed guides, stickers, coloring pages and envelopes. These two women meet-up to package almost 90 Bright Reads orders a month and get them to the post office where we have an unofficial volunteer–one of their granddaughters is a post office employee who helps get all of the envelopes posted and sent off with some extra TLC ♥️

In the fall of 2023 we were lucky enough to add another incredible volunteer to this team, who processes all of the applications for Bright Reads. This woman works full-time as an oncology social worker and came to us because she saw how impactful our programs were for her young patients who were parents. She asked if she could assist with “behind the scenes” tasks and became the perfect fit for the Bright Reads team. Together, these three women keep this program moving and growing–truly, they are a beautiful representation of what can happen when you match skills and passion with the right tasks.

THE STUDENT BECOMES THE TEACHER: LAUNCHING BRIGHT CIRCLE & BRIGHT CLUB

One population I knew we had to engage as volunteers were students. I have supervised student interns for over 15 years and found it to be mutually beneficial for organizations as well as students. We had our first intern 6 months into my position and have established field placement programs with two academic institutions to host interns in social work, art therapy, and child life. We are currently hosting an intern through a Cancer Leaders Like Us Internship Program through the LGBTQI+ Cancer Network, growing our partnerships to enlist students across the county. 

One of the first things I told Haley when I started was that I wanted to do more programs for kids. I also knew that kids loved having playful, energetic and creative activity leaders. I’m not saying I’m NOT these things….but….part of building a successful program is knowing when to delegate 😜ENTER STUDENTS!!!!! They are the perfect facilitators for kid groups. 

I was lucky to have a friend at a local college who was the Director of their Child Life Program. I was quick to set-up a meeting where we got busy building a partnership. The timing was ideal, as they had recently opened a virtual cohort for their graduate program. These students were looking for more opportunities to build their skills working with kids, which made our virtual kid connection activities an exceptional fit. For the past two years we have consistently had a team of 4-8 students who plan and lead our monthly Bright Circle and Bright Club meetings for kids. Attendance continues to grow and the feedback from parents is consistently positive. These students bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to our kid’s program–a huge value-add to our community. 

A MATCHMAKER’S TALE: HOW FAMILY RESOURCE NAVIGATION CARRIES ON

We know our parents appreciate resources. Sometimes it’s as simple as getting some book or website recommendations, but other times parents have no idea where to turn for help. It can be lonely out there, especially when it feels like no one really gets what you are going through. As a social worker, connecting folks to valuable resources is at the core of what I do. It didn’t take long for us to start offering Family Resource Navigation after I came on board. It just seemed like a no-brainer. These powerful meetings with parents have always been some of the most meaningful connections I’ve had at Bright Spot. And, as is the common thread throughout these volunteer origin stories, I simply didn’t have enough time in my day to do it all.  

It just so happened that one of our Bright Spot parents and volunteers had let us know she was enrolled in a patient advocacy program. When I reached out about Family Resource Navigation she jumped at the opportunity to volunteer her skills with our community. Her tender care of each request comes through in her tailored resource guide she sends every parent. She assists with onboarding new volunteers who have helped with navigation over the years, recording training videos and creating shadowing opportunities. It’s incredible how one person can make such a difference in the lives of others, many of whom she’s never met. 

HOW TEENS ARE MAKING BIRTHDAYS BRIGHT

Yes, our programs are aimed at parents of kids aged 0-10. But there are definitely parents in our community who have teenage children. While we’ve referred these teens to our awesome partnering agencies serving teenagers impacted by a loved one with cancer, we still get some teens who want to get involved with Bright Spot. Their creative spirit helped to birth Bright Birthdays, which has sent over 200 handmade cards to kids across the country since its inception in 2023. Heading up this program is an incredible teen whose mom was an OG Bright Spot parent. She organizes card-drives and works with other artistic teens who have a Bright Spot parent to ensure every child receives a card tailored to their interests for their birthday. Getting a handmade card on your birthday is fun; knowing it was made with love by an older kid who also has a parent cancer is magical. 

There are so many more Bright Spot volunteers not highlighted in one of these program backstories–folks helping with fundraisers, facilitating support groups, sharing their wisdom through parent panels and blogs, assisting with resource development, and acting as ambassadors for the organization. Each and every one of them has been an essential part of making our program thrive. Bright Spot Network shines because of their heart, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Today and every day we celebrate you!!!!