A NEW TRADITION

9/28/2018

By: Erin Barber, Generation SERVE Board Member

Erin is one of Generation SERVE’s newest Board members. She is an HR Executive with WP Engine. Erin and her partner, Kimery, have two boys: Sawyer (6) and Evan (11).

When I was introduced to Generation SERVE by a colleague last fall, I was delighted to learn about an organization that shared my values about youth empowerment, but I wasn’t really sure where to start. Fortunately, the Generation SERVE team was preparing for their first Austin Families Give Back event, and I signed up for our family. It felt right to begin our holiday season spending time together in service to others.

Our experience at Austin Families Give Back was awesome! It was a service fair full of hands-on activities, a learning event about the needs in our community AND an opportunity to explore my children’s interests through a different lens. They were exposed to 30 nonprofit organizations and eight different service areas all in one day -- What were they drawn to? What activities resonated most with them? Our oldest son wants to be in motion. He likes helping in ways that involve moving, sorting and making things. He made bird feeders, packed rice and filled sensory stress balls. Our younger son prefers to connect. He wants to know others and offer support - for both people AND animals. He was energized by discussing the activities with other children and volunteers at all of the stations. I walked out of the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex, where the event was held, proud of our work together as a family and confident we’d just established a new tradition.

We’ve built on this momentum in family volunteering over the last year. We volunteer nearly every month through Generation SERVE -- bagging groceries, sorting diapers, tending community gardens, cleaning graffiti and even reading to kittens! I appreciate the meaningful conversations we have as we plan our volunteering and reflect on our work. I’ve seen our boys grow in their understanding of the range of needs in Austin and the action they can take.

Further, I’ve come to appreciate the team at Generation SERVE and their nonprofit partners in the community. Their commitment to inspiring a passion for youth volunteerism and community leadership is reflected through the thoughtfulness that they put into each event and volunteer activity. I’m privileged to support these efforts as a Family Sponsor, and now as a Board Member.

With national Family Volunteer Day nearly upon us, I’m excited for our family to participate again in Austin Families Give Back. It is truly a joy to kick off the holiday season together with giving and service. I hope to see you there!