Mother-child volunteer teams bond, have fun
Volunteering can be a great way for families to spend time together, experience new things and learn a little more about each other as they work side-by-side to help others.
Several mother-child teams volunteered with the Red Cross of the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake region this spring to install smoke alarms in neighborhoods throughout the DMV region as part of the Sound The Alarm campaign.
Not only did these dedicated volunteers help save lives in their local community, it proved to be a chance to bond, collaborate – and even have a little fun.
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Jennifer Eubanks, interim chief development officer for the Red Cross of the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake region, installed smoke alarms with her 18-year old son, Quentin Fortune at Sound the Alarm events in Washington, D.C. and Triangle, Virginia in April. Her 9-year old daughter, Jaida Eubanks, also helped out at the Triangle event.
The mother-son pair proved to be an efficient team, going door to door with a wagon full of smoke alarms and supplies in tow. Quentin quickly got the hang of installing smoke alarms with a drill and installed the most out of any volunteer at the Triangle event.
“I love that my kids have come out to Sound the Alarm,” Jennifer says. “It is important to show them that it is easy to get involved and help those who need it.”
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As a parent, few things are as rewarding as sharing life lessons with a child on the importance and value of helping others. Viviana Bejarano did just that when she and her 16-year-old son, Kevin, volunteered to install fire alarms in Washington, D.C. in April. Their four-person team joined others as they went house to house to install free smoke alarms, help families create escape plans and share fire safety information.
Viviana and Kevin said they enjoyed the time together that spring Saturday and were happy to make a difference in the community.
Viviana also volunteers as a member of the Spiritual Care Disaster Response Team with the Red Cross. Amid a disaster crisis, she provides emotional support and helps guide disaster survivors to draw upon their own values and faith to help them recover from trauma.
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Lindsey Burns is a disaster program manager for the Delmarva Chapter of the Red Cross who helped organize Sound the Alarm events in Delaware this spring. At the April 22 event in Blades, Delaware, there was one special volunteer among the group: Lindsey’s mother, Adrienne Burns.
It's clear that the compassion that Lindsey brings to her role at the Red Cross is a family trait. Working alongside her mother to help in the community that April Saturday “proved to me that I am my mother’s child,” Lindsey says.
“Who would have ever thought I would have had the chance to become my own mother’s ‘boss’?” jokes Lindsey. “It was an amazing experience. It was my first big event [with the Red Cross] and having her participate meant so much to me. Knowing her friendly personality, she thrived volunteering and talking with the community members. She's supportive in every way possible, she's truly my best friend.”
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A FAMILY AFFAIR
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