HelloGrief.org
Volunteer Highlight: Michelle Post - Volunteer, Advocate, & Strategic Partner
Volunteers are the lifeblood of Comfort Zone Camp’s mission – their time, compassion, and expertise creates healing for grieving children across the country. After attending a volunteer training session, individuals are encouraged to choose the volunteer role that is the best fit for them; over time, each person’s volunteer contribution evolves with their interests and goals. Michelle Post, Manager of Donor Family Aftercare at OneLegacy Organ Donor Network, has volunteered with Comfort Zone since 2009 - her journey demonstrates an evolution from camp volunteer, to youth advocate, to strategic partner. Michelle’s first role with Comfort Zone was as a Healing Circle Leader (clinical support group leader), and she has since lead Healing Circles groups at 21 programs. She recounts her journey as a volunteer, advocate, and strategic partner with Comfort Zone Camp:
“As a Healing Circle Leader for many years, I noticed that about one-fourth of my groups seemed to have campers connected to organ, eye, or tissue donation. When CZC expressed a need for connections to grants, funds, or corporations, I felt inspired to go directly to [OneLegacy’s] CEO and share the CZC mission and ask for financial support. At first, OneLegacy gave financial support to the traditional California programs. The Foundation and individual staff members contributed in a Matching Campaign. Then, with CZC data in hand, OneLegacy began to see that donor family children and teens could likely fill an entire camp program at least once a year. In August 2017, OneLegacy and Comfort Zone Camp partnered to host the inaugural OneLegacy Partnership Camp, serving 50 youth grieving the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver who donated organ, eye, or tissue. This year, we will host our second partnership camp!”
Comfort Zone is grateful to Michelle for her commitment to serving grieving youth over the past decade – she had the vision to connect her organization to CZC’s mission, and facilitated the creation of a partnership that will serve youth for years to come.
Thank You, Michelle!