Through Our Eyes: Finding Those Ready to Serve
No matter what a nonprofit’s mission may be, there’s always far more happening behind the curtain than most people ever see. And while having the right staff in place is essential, the men and women who freely give their time and energy – volunteers – are truly indispensable. They take on roles and responsibilities that staff alone could never fully cover. More than just helping hands at events or activities, they become advocates, connectors, and champions who make so much more possible.
That’s exactly what Harrison Bishop brings to Alphapointe. Here, he shares insights about his role and how he’s helping drive the mission forward:
Q: What is your job at Alphapointe?
A: I am the Volunteer Development Coordinator, which basically means that I reach out to different individuals, groups, organizations, and donors, who are wanting to help out Alphapointe in any way they can, possibly by volunteering at one of our big fundraising events like Boots and Pearls or our Golf Tournament, or even just helping set up for a holiday lunch or volunteering at one of our youth events.
Q: How is what you do valuable to Alphapointe?
A: Because there is a lot of people out there who want to donate their time and energy helping others, but they may just not know how to go about doing it, or where to start. It is my job to find people who have it in their heart that they really want to focus on helping those that have a form of vision loss. It is also valuable because it gives volunteers the opportunity to help those with visual impairments, but often the volunteers will end up learning something from those that they serve, like different perspectives of looking at the world.
Q: What first drew you to want to be involved with Alphapointe?
A: What drew me to Alphapointe originally was my desire to help people in any way I could. I started at Alphapointe as an intern in marketing. I had helped out with Alphapointe with events like Adventure Camp for a couple of years, and I loved the idea of working for Alphapointe and having it be my job to go out and find others who share that same mindset of wanting to help and serve the blind and visually impaired community in any way possible. I love the fact that Alphapointe is a non-profit organization. Other major companies might just be able to pay people for their help, but its my job to search for those who truly want to serve and expect nothing in return accept for the satisfaction of knowing they have helped in a large or small way, and maybe even having their own lives changed by those they have served.
Q: After leaving Alphapointe to pursue other avenues, what made you decide to return?
A: One of my other goals was to work during the summer in the community of Christian based summer camps for kids and be able to work with young kids and teach them about Christ. I wanted to come back because I am passionate about our mission, as well as being able to work with others that share that passion and also working either directly or indirectly in marketing. I also feel that Alphapointe benefits from my experience and what I’m able to bring to the table.
Q: Our mission is to help those with vision loss achieve their goals and aspirations. What does Alphapointe’s mission mean to you?
A: Our mission means to me that no matter who you are, you can do anything. I don’t have kids yet, but once I do that is something I want to instill in their minds, to not ever settle for less, because they can do whatever they put their minds to, and I believe that is what Alphapointe strives for as an organization. Alphapointe fosters a belief that no matter your vision of lack of vision, if you want to accomplish something, you have just as much right to go out and do so as someone with 20/20 vision. If you are someone who believes that they are unable to do something because of their disability, Alphapointe is an organization that challenges that and pushes it aside, and that is very much how I am in my personal life.
Q: What is your perspective on why Alphapointe is valuable to others?
A: I know there are probably other companies and non-profit organizations that are committed to helping those with vision loss, but Alphapointe has such a wide range of programs and services where we are able to meet just about anyone wherever they are at in their journey. We have programs for youth with visual impairments, all the way up to programs and employment opportunities for adults, and programs for seniors as well. I also think Alphapointe absolutely nails it with the people that they bring in to run all of our different programs. All of them are perfect for their position and do such an incredible job.
Q: What is your favorite Alphapointe memory?
A: Its very difficult for me to pick one memory, but I truly love all the events that we host. I love Boots and Pearls, the Golf Tournament, and the Tech and Adventure Camps that we do for the youth. I love being a part of running those events, having my volunteers all in place and watching them do what they came to do. I love running around events like Boots and Pearls. Boots and Pearls is hectic and is a lot of work but is very rewarding watching those that I have helped gather, serve and help the event be successful, because at the end of the day that means I have done my job.
Ready to volunteer? Go to this page and fill out the volunteer form and then you’ll be well on your way to serving those who are blind or visually impaired.
