Volunteers Make a Difference

Brian is a 13 year-old Door of Hope resident. He is the oldest of four children, and he takes care of his mom. Brian has no men in his life, so he is the “man of the house.” This lack of male influence has caused Brian to shoulder much of the family responsibilities - well beyond the normal requirements of a 13 year-old. The pressure and stress eventually led him to become withdrawn, and caused his schoolwork to suffer. It became evident to the Door of Hope staff that Brian needed a strong male authority figure in his life.

Kevin came to Door of Hope as a volunteer. He brings his guitar to play for the kids. After his first night as a volunteer, Kevin taught Brian a few songs on the guitar. It became apparent that Kevin would be the perfect mentor for Brian. After a few days in prayer, Kevin agreed to mentor Brian on a regular basis. He now spends three hours a week with Brian, teaching him guitar and jiu-jitsu.

“I’ve seen such an amazing transformation in Brian since getting just a little bit of time with someone who genuinely cares for him and can spend time with him one-on-one,” says one of the directors. “It’s so important to never underestimate the power of giving a kid your undivided attention, regardless of how much time you have to give.”