Emily Rossiter always had the desire to support other women in her community, but she found it hard to find time to pursue it with a busy professional and family life.
When she and her husband moved to Williamsburg in 2006 and into semi-retired life, the back-burner passion became a priority.
Rossiter heard about Avalon: A Center for Women and Children through St. Stephen Lutheran Church where she is actively involved. She went through Avalon’s volunteer training program unsure how she might serve the nonprofit organization, but invested nonetheless.
The shelter was able to accommodate her schedule while she continued to do consulting work on clinical product development, and Rossiter began helping with administrative work for about 90 minutes each week.
She performed clerical tasks and followed up on the phone with clients who had finished counseling, and also met visitors at the door and compiled resources for those in need of housing who did not meet Avalon’s criteria. The opportunity to interact directly with the residents came when she taught a life skills class.
“It certainly helped me appreciate the front line of providing help to women,” she said.
Rossiter said the women appreciated the attention they received from someone who was not the usual caseworker, and the class gave them the chance to discuss subjects – like managing a checkbook – that might be outside their typical experience or trauma.
Now Rossiter is moving into a different facet of volunteer work. She was asked to join Avalon’s board of directors. It is not the path she expected to take — Rossiter enjoys “being in the trenches” — but she is eager to grow her contributions to the center. After her term on the board is up, she will likely return to volunteering as before.
As a board member, she will be working to brainstorm new ways to reach the community and help it become more knowledgeable about the services Avalon offers. Especially drawing on her religious community, Rossiter hopes to connect more interested volunteers who would get involved.
No matter her role, hearing Avalon’s success stories has been the most meaningful part of Rossiter’s tenure. She also loves working with the staff, whose dedication she said is infectious.
“They are the most courageous, compassion people that I’ve ever met,” she said. “They’re a special breed.”
To learn more about Avalon and their volunteer opportunities, visit their website or contact Volunteer Coordinator Tarah Spencer at 258.5022 ext. 1011 or tarah@avaloncenter.org. They are most in need of assistance with transportation and child care.
