Community Spotlight

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What if volunteering for a few hours could set you on a whole new path in life? That's exactly what happened to three volunteers with the Kiwanis Club of Henrico, a volunteer organization focused on improving the lives of Henrico’s youth.

 

After moving to Richmond, Chris and Marty Migliaccio knew they wanted to help their community but didn't know how to get started. It wasn't until their realtor, Christy Carroll, introduced them to the Kiwanis Club of Henrico that they found a place to make tangible change.

 

What started as a casual introduction soon became their doorway into a world of community partnerships, school support, and quiet, consistent impact. 

 

Rather than trying to fix a wide array of issues, Kiwanis Club members intentionally focus their time and energy on a few organizations like Start 1 Spark, local school key clubs, and programs such as Meals on Wheels. This focus allows them to create a snowball effect, bringing change bit by bit to a targeted area - youth. 

 

As Chris said, “The organizations we work with are all very locally focused within the county. We don't think about and we don't talk about global pictures of anything. We focus on those things that are in our backyards.”

 

They also touched on their experiences making and delivering snack kits to students in need. Even though they rarely meet the students who receive the snacks and supplies they deliver, the warmth and welcoming attitude of the school staff speaks volumes. These students might not ever make contact with these volunteers, but students can feel the support of a community encouraging them to do their best.

 

Volunteering can also reveal hidden injustices and inequalities throughout the community. Christy shared, “It just makes you realize the poverty in our community that you don't normally see. Just driving by certain apartment complexes or homes, you just don't know what's there until you experience it firsthand.”

 

Their conversation highlighted the importance of local networking and personal connections in building meaningful relationships with impactful organizations. For Start 1 Spark, consistent, dedicated volunteers make long-lasting change a reality.