Volunteers are vital to the pulse of what we do at Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries. From providing respite for families, tutoring and mentoring, tackling cleaning projects, or preparing a warm, home-cooked meal, our volunteers make a huge difference in the lives of our foster families. One new volunteer, Norma Schmitz, shared her story with us.
Norma recently began bringing weekly meals to one of the Harrisburg Community foster families. She first heard about Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries through her church, but it wasn’t until she met our founder’s wife, Denise McDaniel, and felt her passion for the children that she knew she wanted to lend a hand. When asked why she wanted to volunteer in this particular way, Norma said, “I love to cook, so it made sense to share my passion with a family and allow the house parents a deserved break.”
And it certainly is a much-needed break. Whether a family has one child or ten, knowing they don’t have to cook dinner every night of the week is a refreshing wave of relief. It allows them to spend more one-on-one time with their kids, accomplish another task, or simply take a breather. It is amazing how a little time spent volunteering in the kitchen can bless a family so much!
Foster parents Bri and Dru Tennant attest to how much receiving a weekly meal from Norma has blessed them. With seven children in their home (six children in foster care and one biological child) and a full calendar, including after-school programs and weekend family time, they have plenty to keep them busy! But more than just not having to cook one night a week, Norma has brought so much more to the family:
“The Schmitz have not only brought meals to our home to enjoy, but they have also brought more conversations, delicious new dishes, and new experiences for the kids in our home. Hosting Norma has not only become something special our home looks forward to each week but a tradition the kids are ready to continue!”
Although Norma has only been preparing and delivering meals for a short time, she already has a special moment that touched her heart:
“The Zimmer House has a large, country-style kitchen table with benches for seating. It brought me back to the days when my nine children would sit around a very similar table and bench arrangement. It was sweet to see the sight again.”
Norma’s favorite part about volunteering so far is preparing a delicious meal while “sprinkling in strong intentions of love and peace for each family member.” The family certainly tastes that love and intentionality with every delicious bite, and Norma feels blessed too.
“This experience has been rewarding for me,” Norma said. “It’s allowed me to take my cooking passion to a new and meaningful place. My ride home from Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries is long and dark, but it allows me to take in the significance of the moment I just left . . . God is good!”
To learn more about how to Volunteer with Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries, visit coyotehill.org/waystohelp/volunteer.
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