Small Actions Make the Biggest Difference
Trista K. of Half Hollow Hills High School West reflects on her GlamourGals experience.
The past 4 years have been the most heartwarming thanks to GlamourGals. I love helping others and I am so glad to be a part of this club. When I joined the club as a freshman, there were about ten volunteers in the club, including myself. This made it difficult for each resident to have someone to talk to each time we visited the nursing home. As the year went by, the officers at the time looked over each volunteer to see if any of us could be potential officers in the future since they were graduating that year. The officers then came to me and two of my friends and asked us if we were interested in being officers the next year. This made me so happy because I love helping others, and being a leader of this club would give me even more opportunities to put GlamourGals out there and show how enjoyable the club really is. Along with painting the residents' nails, making cards and writing letters, playing games with them and more, my role is now treasurer of my GlamourGals chapter. As treasurer, I make sure that all of the funds in my GlamourGals chapter is safe and protected. I also make sure that all volunteers hand in their dues on time and accordingly. This position has taught me responsibility and accountability in various situations. I know how to manage the clubs funds whether it be ordering more supplies, handing in the registration fee for GlamourGals on time, or ordering new supplies. I am so happy that I got the opportunity to be in this club and I am so thankful for all it has taught me these past 4 years.
I have gone above and beyond serving the seniors in my community in many ways. Prior to the pandemic, my chapter would visit our nearby nursing home biweekly and interact with the residents. We painted their nails, played games with them, and had wonderful conversations. Although almost each resident had two to three volunteers interacting with them, I would always make sure each resident had someone to talk to. Some of the residents' friends and families were unable to visit them, so my goal was to make sure no one felt left out or alone while the rest of the residents were occupied with volunteers. This formed many relationships and bonds with each resident, and it upsets me that I am unable to see them face to face due to the pandemic. My GlamourGals chapter then started to write letters and make cards for all of the residents once quarantine started last March. We collected over 50 cards for the residents and it warmed my heart. I knew these cards we made would put a smile right on the residents faces and brighten their day.
GlamourGals is important to my community because it is always nice to give back. Many residents at these nursing homes don’t have family, so they may not have visitors often. By GlamourGals volunteers visiting residents and engaging in activities within nursing homes, we are making a difference in each community by putting a smile on their faces and brightening up their days. Volunteering is important to each community, and in my community, I believe that every individual should know what GlamourGals has done for each resident and how it has made an impact on our community today.
