By Nancy Carol Inguanzo | PEF Volunteer & Engagement Manager
We had no idea how much would be asked of Pasadena Educational Foundation volunteers in 2020. Our community needs changed drastically… and our volunteers met those needs.
On reflecting on this year, I looked back at the wonderful things our volunteers accomplished in 2019: Volunteers – The Engine Behind So Much Good Work. PEF volunteers supported many meaningful programs for our children that year. They provided extraordinarily important, “normal” support like helping in our summer classes, in our office, and on school campuses.
During 2020, Pasadena Educational Volunteers provided more volunteer service than ever before in our 50 year history. And did so in ways we could not have foreseen.
Our volunteers served meals curbside to area families, assembled and distributed school supplies, assisted at flu shot clinics, made book deliveries, and helped organize the PUSD warehouse. All told, almost 2,000 hours of community service was performed by volunteers to support the Pasadena Unified School District and our community – the equivalent of 83 days during this unprecedented time. That’s over two continuous months of work. Thankfully, our volunteer engine was strong – a testament to their commitment to their community.
In the coming years, our children will study this time in class. Despite the veil of discord, strife, and tragedy that surrounds it, I hope they will see the many people who were helpers – ordinary members of their own neighborhoods who did good, no… did great, extraordinary work.
