L to R: Austin Parker and his grandfather Hugh Parker volunteering at “The Ranch” snack bar in The Center’s Cullen Residence Hall.
They say that one of the greatest gifts you can give is your time. At The Center, one of our great gifts has been to have Hugh and Austin Parker as volunteers. This grandfather-grandson team began volunteering at The Center during the summer of Austin’s freshman year in high school. Now in their second summer with us, the two view their experience at The Center as a chance to spend quality time together while changing others’ lives for the better.
Hugh and Austin visit The Center twice a week and split their time between two volunteer experiences: Gingersnaps Etc. and The Ranch. Through Gingersnaps, they package cookies and snacks for distribution and sale, the proceeds from which come back to support The Center. At The Ranch—our snack bar at Cullen Residence Hall—they staff the area and make snacks available to our clients during the day.
“We enjoy it every time because we can meet someone new or make someone’s day better,” says Austin. “It’s a fulfilling experience.”
Hugh and Austin look forward to seeing the friends they’ve made among our clients each week, talking to them about their day or making them smile with a simple “hello.” Thanks to these outstanding gentlemen for making a difference for our clients!
Are you interested in becoming a volunteer for The Center? Check out our volunteer opportunities!