September 2024 Volunteer of the Month - Elisa Garcia

🌟 Volunteer of the Month, Elisa Garcia: Steady and Strong! 🌟

This month, we celebrate a truly exceptional volunteer who has made an incredible impact with 150 volunteer hours! Known for her inquisitive nature, she always ask the right questions and seeks to understand the “why” behind every task. This dedication to learning sets her apart.

She’s not just reliable but proactive—taking initiative and stepping up, even taking the proper time becoming a lead when she felt ready. Upon our initial conversation with her to become a Lead Volunteer, Garcia shared that she felt like she had more to learn and wanted to see how center was at different times of the day and week to be able to really understand the nature of the position. A true leader at heart! Her genuine personality shines through in everything she does, and her positive, funny attitude always brings a smile to everyone around Garcia.

“The first question whenever Garcia arrives (after how are you) is always ‘what can I do?’” shared Center Operations Specialist , Zekee Silos. “And even if we don’t have anything for her in that moment, she can always find something that needs tidying, restocking, fixing or improving. She just makes our jobs so much easier.”

Volunteering is a way to bring normalcy to her life, and her commitment to covering shifts—especially during those sporadic times—has been invaluable. She has already received two USO Mission Awards, one of which was a nomination from a fellow volunteers, and was also awarded our Rookie of the Month award for excellence as a new volunteer in July 2024. Garcia loves the family vibe here at the USO and is always up for a great conversation. We are lucky to have such a dedicated, compassionate, and fun individual as part of our team!

Thank you for everything you do, Garcia, and CONGRATULATIONS on such an amazing achievement!