Little Moments… Big Impact
By Steve Dwojak, Angels’ Place Volunteer
Featured in the Winter 2008 Heraldy

I have been a volunteer at Angels’ Place for close to a year now. When I began volunteering with Angels’ Place, my interest was in spending time with the residents of the homes. The manager at the home I selected suggested I visit one young man who was in need of a friend. My first visits were met with apprehension from this man. Perhaps he wondered why I was coming to see him. Over time though, I could see he became more and more comfortable. But I kept wondering, “am I making any difference at all?”

When I visit, we usually make some small talk and watch his favorite television program. Often I’ll bring him some sort of after dinner snack. On my two most recent visits, it was apparent he was happy I came to see him. When one of the employees at the home went to the young man’s room to inform him I had arrived, he jumped up with excitement and briskly walked down the hall to greet me in the living room. He was all smiles the whole time I was there. While I was talking to the home manager, she mentioned this young man talks about my visits regularly and marks down on the calendar when I’m coming to see him. Those comments made my day!

We all may wonder sometimes if we really are making a difference through the things we do for others. I too wondered that for a while. But after hearing the feedback from my most recent visit, I realized the little bit of time I spend with him does matter. And he has realized there is someone who cares about him.

Little things – little moments – do matter. It’s not the big things that today’s world says we must have that make the difference. There was no job status, paycheck or dollar amount that could have trumped the feeling I had when I learned how much this young man looks forward to my visits. My time with him has shown me every moment in life is special. And we all need to know that each of us has someone who cares..