Erika Schaefer is a Junior at the University of Oregon but originally from Orange County, California. She is also a part of the Acrobatics & Tumbling Team.
Where do you/have you volunteer(ed)?
I have volunteered at numerous places here in Eugene with O-Heroes, but on my own time I love to go to Adaptive Research and also the Homeless Shelter here in downtown Eugene. Adaptive Research is a place that helps out adults with special needs. I love going there and hanging out with them, they are a great group of people. Ever since I was a freshman here I donated food and clothing on my own time.
Why/what made you want to volunteer at Adaptive Research and the Homeless Shelter?
I love going to Adaptive Research because I love special needs. They are amazing people and they are so happy and love life. The people at Adaptive Research inspire me to be a better person and enjoy life a little bit more like they do.
I love going to the homeless shelter because I feel like I can help someone every time I go.
When I go through my closet I think about a person that could really use my clothes that I do not need anymore. Whenever we have team meals and there are a lot of left overs I know that I can help someone not be as hungry if I box that food up and drop it off at the homeless shelter.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
I love to help people. It is as simple as that. Seeing smiles on other people’s faces is what thrives me to do more good. The sense of fulfillment I get from helping others is what makes me truly happy.
Why would, or wouldn’t, you recommend volunteering?
I would definitely recommend volunteering because it is your chance to help better the world. You don’t have to be a millionaire and donate money to help make a difference, just a smile or a nice gesture for someone can make a difference.
Any specific places you would recommend for a first-time volunteer?
I would say find a place that interests you and go. It is hard sometimes to get out of your comfort zone, but once you help someone, you will instantly be hooked. For example I love working with special needs so going to Adaptive Research is perfect for me, but for others it might not be. If you like animals call up local Animal Shelters and ask them how you could help. Or if you love working with old people call local retirement homes and see if they are looking for volunteers. My best advice is to not try and volunteer at places you are interested in, find something you are passionate about and you will always want to go back.
Zoey Johsz is a Junior at the University of Oregon, part of the Acrobatics & Tumbling Team, and the co-director of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Where do you/have you volunteer(ed)?
Since I began attending the University, I have volunteered at a few places. I volunteer with the O-Heroes, our non-profit group. Off the top of my head, a few places I volunteer with are the boys and girls club, Quack-N-action, duckling day, the children’s hospital, healthy moves, lane county food bank, and the animal shelter.
Why/what made you want to volunteer in general?
I have grown up volunteering. My greatest passion is kids. Most of the places I volunteer with involves children. For example, Healthy Moves as a program started last year by a mother who was very upset that PE classes were taken out of the school curriculum. I went and volunteered twice a week teaching 1st and 2nd graders, as well as the teacher, the basics of PE.
I just find it fun to see kids having fun and knowing that they’re getting the physical activity they need. So for me, it just puts a smile on my face to see them happy.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
Everyone is different. We are raised with varying degrees of morals and values, but when I get to volunteer, I am able to make this connection with a person that allows us to let go of all our differences. I enjoy building that relationship and interaction with people with different backgrounds, but the connection is what I enjoy most about volunteering.
How do you manage your time to balance volunteering and school and such?
School, athletics, and volunteering is very heavy in time management, which is similar to most everyone anywhere, except maybe replace athletics with a job. I don’t necessarily manage my time better, but make time for volunteering. Volunteering isn’t just a job or something that looks good on a resume but a way to spend my time. Some people watch TV, go to the movies, go hiking. Luckily, I get to volunteer.
Why would, or wouldn’t, you recommend volunteering?
I would recommend volunteering because it teaches you how to understand one another. You get to learn about other people, their values, and point of view. Also, it’s a good experience to really develop relationships with new people and knowing that you may impact another person’s life positively is an irreplaceable feeling.
Would you recommend any places for a first-time volunteer?
For a first-time volunteer my advice would be to identify what you are passionate about and then find a place that suites you. After that, it’s fun to explore other places that might not pique your interest because it could end up being something better than you originally expected it to be.
Q&A Session done by Jeremy Jahja
Kendall Brooke is a student athlete at the University of Oregon. She plays on the women’s soccer team and is co-chair of the O Heroes volunteer group. She has made herself a prominent member of the community through her work and aspires to help others.
Can you state your name and give a little bit about who you are and your relationship to O Heroes?
My name is Kendall Brooke and I am on the University of Oregon Women’s Soccer team and I am also a co-chair for O Heroes.
What exactly is O Heroes?
O Heroes is our non-profit student-athlete community outreach organization here at the University of Oregon. O Heroes allows us to help give back to our fans and the community that supports us.
Why do you participate in O heroes?
I love participating in O Heroes because I have a huge passion for helping people in need. Community service has always been a part of my life and is something that I really enjoy doing. I have been given the awesome opportunity this year to be the new O Heroes co-chair, and help plan and organize all of the O Heroes events.
How do you believe you’re making a difference and why is it important?
Being student-athletes, so many people and young kids look up to us. It is especially important for us to project a good image of ourselves so that we become good role models for others to follow.
What has O Heroes taught you?
I think it is great that we have the power to make such a huge impact on the lives of others. To see a kid’s face light up when they meet an Oregon athlete is such an incredible feeling. It makes you feel so good to take just a few hours out of your day to volunteer, and know that you are making a difference in someone’s life.
Do you have any stories or examples of what O Heroes has taught you?
For the past couple years O Heroes has partnered with the Courts for Kids organization. I went on a trip this past summer to Casa Blanca, Peru. Our mission was to work with the local community and construct for them a multi-purpose sport court, which they can use for generations. The community of Casa Blanca is an underdeveloped area with no electricity or running water, which made for a very unique experience for many of us. Stepping that far out of my comfort zone and into a third world country really helped open my eyes to how other people live.
Niall O’Malley is a student at the University of Oregon that plays on the Men’s Club Lacrosse team. He has volunteered at youth lacrosse clinics since his freshman year and is known for his generosity to the community. No matter what part of the season it is, O’Malley is finding time to volunteer and make a difference.
What is your name and can you tell me a little about who you are?
My name is Niall O’Malley and I’m on the club Men’s Lacrosse team at Oregon.
Can you explain how you make a difference in the community?
For the past couple years I have been going to Bend with some of my teammates to volunteer at a youth lacrosse clinic. We share our knowledge and passion for the game with kids that are so excited to learn from us. That’s probably my favorite place to volunteer because it allows us to be active with the community and make a difference.
Why do you think it’s important to volunteer and interact with the community?
The community appreciates our help and I can see it in the kid’s faces that we coach. They learn so much in the time we spend with them and are really excited to see us. It’s an opportunity for me to teach kids about lacrosse and make them fall in love with it. Sports unite people and it’s important for them to stick with it because I learned valuable life skills from playing lacrosse my whole life.
Do you plan to continue volunteering at clinics like the one in Bend?
We have another clinic coming up in March that I’m really excited about. I’ll be going up to Portland with the pro lacrosse team, Denver Outlaws. We’ll be teaching kids third through eighth grade and it’s gotten a lot of attention. Kids are really excited to meet some of these pro players, as am I. But it’ll also be an awesome opportunity to share my passion for lacrosse and try to do the same thing I do in Bend. I know when I was their age I used to love going to these types of clinics. It taught me a lot learning from older guys that I considered role models. I hope to create that same type of experience for the kids I coach.
What have these volunteer experiences taught you?
They’ve taught me a lot of life lessons that I’m really proud of. It has showed me the power one individual can make on a community. Although a lot of my volunteering is done with teammates or other people, I have learned that I can create the same impact on my own.
Q&A Session done by Cameron Wong
Holly Johnson is a sophomore that plays lacrosse at the University of Oregon.
Can you describe the O Heroes Program at the University of Oregon?
The O Heroes program for the athletic department gives us a chance for athletes to get involved in the community and really make a difference. I think we do a good job at getting involved in different things, like helping the homeless, or going to the animal shelter. We’re just trying to make in impact in Eugene and make a difference.
Why is it important for the student athletes to give back to the community?
I think the community does a lot for the University, especially with the fans supporting athletics. I think for us to get the opportunity to give back and to really talk to them and help them is just a great way to get involved and to keep them coming to support and making an effort to really get to know them.
What do you like about volunteering at the Greenhill Humane Society?
So I am from Maryland, and I really miss my dogs. I have two dogs at home so going to the animal shelter really helps me by getting to play with the dogs. I also like giving the attention to the dogs that they deserve and need. It’s a mutual benefit.
What are the animals like?
They are nice and really active. It’s nice when you get to take them on walks. They’re playful they like to get outside. They are really well trained dogs. They are good dogs. They are just good animals, the cats too.
How do you find time to volunteer being a full time student athlete?
In the off-season, we have a ton of time, especially on weekends. Being able to help out and volunteer during season is a little more difficult. But if you go and do an hour or once a weekend, it adds up. So I think it makes a difference.
Is there anywhere else you like to volunteer with O Heroes?
I like volunteering at the homeless shelter. I think helping the homeless is important since they have a big population here.
How do people in the community react when they see student athletes volunteering?
They like knowing we’re more than just athletes and more than just students. We do get involved and we try to give back and be involved in the community. I think it’s nice for them and for us.
Robin Cambier is a senior from Belgium on the Oregon men’s tennis team. He is co-chair of the O Heroes program.
Can you tell me about the O Heroes program?
O-Heroes is a non-profit organization that runs and manages all the community service activities that the UO Student-Athletes participate in. I also organize the yearly O-Heroes Talent Show. The focus of the O-Heroes committee is to give the opportunity to Student-Athletes to give back to the community and to interact with the people in the community.
What does volunteering mean to you/ why is it important?
Volunteering is important because I think that we are very fortunate to be in the position that we are today and therefore need to give back to the community and the less fortunate people around us. I think that it has helped me grow as a person to recognize the importance of community service and seeing the impact it has on the community and on the people of the community.
Why do you think it is important as athletes to give back to the community?
It is important because most of the people of the community are people that support us and I feel like it would be a normal thing to support them too, give back to them for what they do for us. It is also a great way to get to know your community and the people of the community.
What is you favorite event to help at?
I love working with kids and putting a smile on their face. I don’t really have a favorite event I helped at but I can say that the “Duck into a Book” event at an Eugene Elementary School was an event I really enjoyed last year (reading books to the kids, Q&A and signing autographs) and this year I participated at an event at another Elementary School in Eugene where they had like a thank-a-thon/marathon (I don’t really exactly know what it was anymore) where I basically got to interact with the kids, give them a little warm up and run with them around a track.
How has volunteering helped you?
It has helped me realize the importance of giving back, the importance of thinking about the people around us in our community and it has helped me grow as a person. What I love about volunteering is seeing all the smiles that I can create or make happen on someone’s face just by my presence or by small acts of kindness.
Q&A Session done by Nicole Seybold
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