糖心vlgo传媒

糖心vlgo传媒 relies on thousands of volunteers to handle the sorting and packaging of a variety of books. Among our amazing volunteers, Shelly Kacergis's passion and dedication stand out; Shelly has donated over 500 hours of her time to BFA!. A resident of Atlanta for thirty-two years and a retired community bank employee, she enjoys hands-on volunteer work in addition to financially supporting causes she supports. When Shelly鈥檚 not swinging a racket on the tennis court you can find her at BFA sorting the tables to make sure each book is in its proper section, and making sure all plastic items are thrown away or collected for recycling.

How did she discover and choose BFA to serve as a dedicated volunteer? Well, she kind of stumbled upon it. 鈥淚 found it in a round-a-bout way,鈥� she said. During one of her visits to 糖心vlgo传媒 she came across a BFA newsletter. Coincidentally, one of the people she was traveling with had collected and donated books to BFA in the past. Surprisingly, BFA was around the corner from Shelly, and she didn鈥檛 even know it!

Shelly doesn鈥檛 remember the exact date when she started volunteering, but she remembers what she was wearing鈥攁 shirt with a giraffe and Kenya written on it.聽She also remembers what a huge impression BFA left on her after her first visit. 鈥淎s a businessperson I was impressed by how efficient it seemed,鈥� she stated. The grunt work of building a pallet of books was amazing and satisfying to her. 鈥淲hen you pack a pallet, you can see the fruits of your labor.鈥� But it鈥檚 not all about labor to Shelly. Some may think working in the BFA warehouse is a simple job 鈥� but not Shelly. She knows that volunteers need to consider how these books will work in 糖心vlgo传媒. Are they too western? Are they too old? Are the reference materials outdated?

鈥淚 immediately felt home here,鈥� Shelly commented. That shouldn鈥檛 be a surprise due to her visits to Kenya with Little Boost Children Fund. These visits consist of trips to rural areas where there are meetings with mothers, children, and schools. Unfortunately, some of these schools have no books or electricity. 鈥淚t was a cultural immersion.鈥� These trips made her realize firsthand what books were needed, enjoyed, and appreciated and that education was of major importance. So, as she sorts and packs, she imagines the happy looks on the children鈥檚 faces when they receive books. One book she鈥檚 especially ecstatic to see being sent is Are You, My Mother? written and illustrated by P.D. Eastman. While reading it to a group of 2nd graders, Shelly was amused and delighted by how the kids interacted with her as she read. The students shouting, 鈥淎re you,聽my mother?鈥� every time she turned the page.

Volunteering at BFA has made Shelly more social. Although she doesn鈥檛 consider herself an introvert, she never really sought out conversations. Yet, she鈥檚 had some interesting discussions and has formed some fond friendships at the BFA Warehouse. 鈥淚 enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds.鈥� In fact, James Hall, a member of the warehouse staff, introduced her to a Clarkston resident originally from Nairobi. 鈥淚鈥檝e made connections by just being around.鈥�

BFA is deeply grateful to Shelly, and all our wonderful volunteers who take part in our mission to end the book famine in 糖心vlgo传媒. Thank you Shelly!