Recognizing Four Mercy & Justice Champions
Did you know there are many different ways to step into leadership positions as a Hope for New York volunteer? In fact, we currently have more than 150 volunteers who lead in various capacities to support our work and the work of our affiliates. These people are truly being the hands and feet of Jesus to our neighbors in need across New York City. We couldn’t do our work without them, and neither could our affiliates. But who are these leaders?
We have our committed Hope for New York Board members, who diligently hold our organization to a high standard; our Community Grants Circle member, who help advise in our grant process; our Team Leaders, who oversee our volunteers on the ground at our affiliates; our HFNY Reps, who mobilize their community groups to serve; our His Toy Store Committee members, who run our annual Christmas outreach; and our Young Supporters Committee members, who advocate and fundraise for HFNY among our young supporters.
Today, we’re recognizing four amazing volunteer leaders: Caroline Anderson, Blake DeBoer, Jessica Cho, and Melanie Luk. Through their actions, these four have exhibited a lifestyle of mercy and justice that reflects a heart compassionate toward our poor and marginalized neighbors. Below, you can learn more about their involvement with Hope for New York and our affiliates and what inspires us to consider them our Mercy & Justice Champions:
Caroline Anderson
Community Grants Circle
Caroline has served as Community Grants Circle chair for the Downtown regional team and advised in HFNY's grantmaking process for the past two years. Through her experience with the CGC and evaluating grant applications, Caroline was compelled to serve at The Salvation Army to better understand HFNY affiliates, and she has dedicated her time and efforts to continually serve lunch to the community in Union Square. She has proven a strong commitment to living a lifestyle of mercy and justice and has shown herself to be a true servant leader.
Blake DeBoer
Team Leader, Exodus Transitional Community
Blake has dedicated years to serving as a volunteer before becoming a team leader at Exodus Transitional Community, where our volunteers manage a 10-week workshop series in job readiness for men and women in the programming there. Blake's leadership extends beyond the oversight of the weekly programming—including curriculum creation, weekly coordination and presentations, mentor/mentee pairings and management, and administration responsibilities—and into his personal life where he regularly keeps up relationship with former and current mentees and uses his spheres of influence to inspire others to serve at workshops and connects participants to opportunities for employment. He's been actively engaged with HFNY in a variety of ways over the years as a voice and advocate for living out faith through the God-given skills and resources you have, and displays a deep understanding of how the gospel radically changes our ability to engage in mercy and justice.
Jessica Cho
HFNY Rep and Jobs for Life Business Relations Leader
Jessica is a HFNY Rep at Redeemer East Side. Not only has Jessica helped mobilize her community group to serve their neighbors on the East Side, she also joined a new team of volunteers running a job readiness program at The Bowery Mission. Jessica is helping connect men at the Bowery with business leaders to develop job skills and get connected to potential jobs in the city so they can regain employment and independence.
Melanie Luk
Young Supporters Committee
Melanie is an enthusiastic and tireless advocate for Hope for New York. She's served two years on our Young Supporters Committee, and during that time she's been instrumental in helping plan events to engage and inspire her peers, including two Spring Benefits, numerous happy hours, and hosting a "Justice Dinner," where she invited friends to learn more about and engage with Hope for New York in a dinner setting. She has been an active volunteer, including serving as a Don't Walk By team leader and with His Toy Store. She is always recruiting friends to serve with her.