Volunteer Spotlight: Melissa Gamboa-Aguierre

Published on July 26, 2017 in

Before November 2016, Melissa Gamboa-Aguirre had never volunteered before in her life. But a passion for children led her to United Way for Southeastern Michigan, and we helped her find the perfect volunteer opportunity for her: working with kids at the Oakland Family Services Great Start to Readiness pre-kindergarten program in Walled Lake.

Since November 2016, Melissa has given 267 hours of her time at Oakland Family Services.

“Melissa has been such an amazing asset to us,” says Valerie Mercadante, Development and Engagement Coordinator at OFS. “She is an essential part of our team here.”

Volunteer, gain experience

A native of Mexico who currently lives in Novi, Melissa says she hopes to be a Spanish teacher someday, and that volunteering with OFS is giving her great experience.

“I love to meet new kids and teachers and learn about the American education system,” Melissa says. “I love to volunteer at Oakland Family Services because I know that someday, I could teach Spanish to the kids.”

United Way’s new volunteer portal connects volunteers in Southeastern Michigan with hundreds of opportunities that fit their skills and interests. Find your perfect opportunity at LiveUnitedSEM.GalaxyDigital.com.