Volunteer Spotlight
Spring is here and our volunteers have been working hard to instill a love of reading in our students this semester! This month, we are highlighting Ivy McMullen, a volunteer at one of our NorthSide sites. Ivy is from Metro-Detroit, Michigan and has been in Chicago for the past five years. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and works as a Packaging Engineer.
Q: Why did you decide to volunteer with HOPES?
“I decided to volunteer with HOPES because I wanted to find a way I could support a Chicago community in need, in a meaningful way. I have previously volunteered for an organization that
supported people experiencing homelessness and when I came across HOPES and their mission, I knew I wanted to get involved.”
Q: What does being a volunteer mean to you?
“Being a volunteer to me means showing up each week as the best version of myself so I can support the students at HOPES to my fullest capacity.”
Q: What keeps you motivated to continue volunteering?
“Each time I go and volunteer at program, it pushes me to continue going the next week. The motivation I had from the previous week follows me and keeps me motivated to keep going. I also enjoy seeing how determined and willing the students at HOPES are to learn and grow. It truly keeps me motivated to continue to support them as much as I can.”
Q: Can you tell me your favorite memory so far with HOPES?
“My favorite memory at HOPES thus far was when I was helping a student with her multiplication tables - she wanted to start with the problems that were the most difficult first, so she had time to learn them. It was so incredible seeing a student with such a willingness to grow and succeed.”
In her free time, Ivy loves to try new restaurants, attend workout classes and read (her favorite genres are nonfiction and autobiographies)! She has two cats, Prince and Peach (who are her pride and joy) where they all reside in her Streeterville apartment.
Q: Why did you decide to volunteer with HOPES?
“I decided to volunteer with HOPES because I wanted to find a way I could support a Chicago community in need, in a meaningful way. I have previously volunteered for an organization that
supported people experiencing homelessness and when I came across HOPES and their mission, I knew I wanted to get involved.”
Q: What does being a volunteer mean to you?
“Being a volunteer to me means showing up each week as the best version of myself so I can support the students at HOPES to my fullest capacity.”
Q: What keeps you motivated to continue volunteering?
“Each time I go and volunteer at program, it pushes me to continue going the next week. The motivation I had from the previous week follows me and keeps me motivated to keep going. I also enjoy seeing how determined and willing the students at HOPES are to learn and grow. It truly keeps me motivated to continue to support them as much as I can.”
Q: Can you tell me your favorite memory so far with HOPES?
“My favorite memory at HOPES thus far was when I was helping a student with her multiplication tables - she wanted to start with the problems that were the most difficult first, so she had time to learn them. It was so incredible seeing a student with such a willingness to grow and succeed.”
In her free time, Ivy loves to try new restaurants, attend workout classes and read (her favorite genres are nonfiction and autobiographies)! She has two cats, Prince and Peach (who are her pride and joy) where they all reside in her Streeterville apartment.
