At DOROT, every month could be Volunteer Month, but to the rest of the country, April is National Volunteer Month! All month long, we’ll be sharing stories from our incredible community of volunteers.
Today, meet Mohab Idris, a student at Hunter College who has volunteered for every Package Delivery program during the pandemic over the past two years!
How did you get involved with DOROT?
I got involved with DOROT through the American Red Cross Program at Hunter College. A friend of mine would share DOROT events through the Red Cross listserv, to which I was subscribed. I thought the mission of DOROT was charming and wholesome, ultimately influencing me to volunteer for them.
What type of volunteer activities do you do at DOROT?
At DOROT, I deliver food packages to seniors and then conduct a 10-30 minute phone call with them later that day to check on them and have polite and engaging conversations.
How do you fit volunteering into your schedule?
Fortunately, this volunteering opportunity is presented occasionally during the weekends or holidays, during which I do not have school or work. Thus, it fits nicely into my schedule, so I almost always have the time to provide my service.
What motivates you to continue volunteering at DOROT?
What motivates me to continue volunteering at DOROT is the thought that some of these seniors are lonely and have experienced times of sadness, especially with the pandemic occurring not too long ago. I can't help but envision my grandparents (who I spend a lot of time with) being lonely or having no one to talk to; it indeed upset me. Thus, I volunteer at DOROT in the hope of engaging with seniors and letting them know that there is someone that is looking out and caring for them.
What's your most memorable volunteer moment with DOROT?
This lovely lady, who I shall call Jane D., invited me into her home for some tea. I politely declined to come inside, however, we had a pleasant conversation about traveling and academics outside her doorstep. She even showed me her family pictures; the one with her granddaughter sitting on her lap almost brought a tear to my eye. I found this whole experience to be quite memorable because it was probably one of the kindest and most heartfelt conversations I've ever had before in my life. She was such a sweet woman who radiated fantastic energy in a world that can be harsh sometimes.
Learn more about volunteering HERE!