Stories

Volunteering makes the world go round. It just does. By definition to volunteer is to freely offer to do something. That's it. Holding a door open for someone, helping a neighbor with a project, taking a meal to a family with a new baby all fit the bill and are all efforts greatly appreciated. But there are those who work -- for free -- right here in Charlotte to make our city better for those around them. These are our SHAREheroes and we'd like you to meet them.

Follow us on Instagram as we unveil new SHAREheroes throughout the month.

Emily McGrane

Emily McGrane, 26, is the volunteer leader for Homework Hounds with Hands On Charlotte. This group of volunteers tutors kids every Monday from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Beatties Ford Library. “I adore all of our students who come to tutoring,” Emily said. “There are a lot of kids who have been coming to tutoring every week for the past four years. I've gotten to know them and their families very well and enjoy knowing what a huge impact we are making in these kids’ lives. I've been very fortune to have a loving family and great career - so it's important for me to help care for those who may not have had the same opportunities.”


Asheton Brown

Asheton Brown, 27, volunteers as a way to give people a sense of belonging that she often didn’t feel growing up. She’s worked with many organizations before moving to Charlotte. An avid runner, Asheton most recently volunteered with RunningWorks organizing a group event this winter to provide bags filled with necessities to those in need. “It was so much fun,” Asheton said. “We hope to do something for the summer months.”

Sam Smith

Sam Smith Jr., 30, work for Carolinas College of Health Sciences but makes time to volunteer for Sustain Charlotte, NCWorks, HashtagLunchBagCLT, Right Moves For Youth and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte. "As a little boy, coming from Monrovia, Liberia growing up in the projects, I had no hope or sense of direction on what life would be for me. I remembered, volunteers from the Cass Community Corridor in Detroit knocking on my door everyday to pick me up, and take their hard earned money to take me on field trips, or to the neighborhood recreation center, or to the movies just to keep me out of trouble. I never understood what all of that meant. As I got older and realized, those people weren’t getting paid for all the time they spent and everything they did for me. That’s when it hit me that sometimes it’s not about the monetary things, but the love and compassion people have to make someone else life better. Why do I volunteer? Volunteering for me provides the sense of accomplishment. I have always had the heart to give back because someone volunteered their time to get me where I am today. I volunteer because I enjoy being in the community and hearing other people’s stories. I volunteer because I know whatever it is I do, I will make a significant difference in someone else’s life. Volunteering connects me to others. Volunteering brings fulfillment to my life. Volunteering provides me a sense of purpose."

Billy Martin

Billy Martin volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte and has been Big Brother to Little Brother Isaiah for four years.  “I think I learn more from Isaiah than he does from me,” says Billy. “We have a lot of fun together and I am happy and proud when I can contribute to his success." Billy works in environmental health and safety and his previous volunteer experiences include Carolinas Medical Center.
Janice Harris

Janice Harris volunteers for A Brighter Day Ministries. She's always there for every program, helps set up, participates, helps clean up and has been part of the planning of several events. "I appreciate her so much because its very difficult to get good people that remain dedicated and committed,” said Beverly Davis, A Brighter Day Ministries Executive Director.
Kelsey Willis

Kelsey Willis, 28, volunteers through Hands On Charlotte with Friendship Gardens as a project leader, but on occasion helps with other projects at Hospitality House of Charlotte, the Carolina Raptor Center, and Shining Hope Farms. She also volunteers with Theatre Charlotte and the Carolina Thread Trail and at whatever event catches her eye, like beer festivals, film festivals, and comic conventions. Kelsey loves outdoor projects that involve planting, building, moving dirt, cleaning up trash and weeding. “I volunteer to get outside and to get to know Charlotte in a different way,” Kelsey said. “I like seeing a project come together and getting a behind-the-scenes look at the work it took to get it there. If it is important to me, I want to know more about it and help make it successful.”
Phillip Owens

Phillip Owens, 51, volunteers through his employer, Duke Energy, and has planted trees for TreesCharlotte, served as a board member for The Salvation Army and served meals at Center of Hope. “Volunteering is very important as we are blessed so shall we be a blessing to others,” Phillip said. “Duke Energy is committed to being involved in the local communities it services and employees should ‘step up’ and share their time, talent and treasure with others.”
Ryan Sullivan

Ryan Sullivan does a little bit of everything. In addition to his day job with PIEtech, he’s in a band (86 the Fish), an improv comedy group (Now Are the Foxes Improv / Comedy) and still finds time to give back to the community. Ryan volunteers through Hands On Charlotte at Crisis Assistance Ministry, has served as fundraising chair for the Relay For Life of Ballantyne, NC is a public speaking coach for UNC Charlotte's Center for Leadership Development and this month, he’ll be leading a team of volunteers at Salvation Army Center Of Hope Shelter for Women and Children at Hands On Charlotte Day (April 29). Why does Ryan do all this? “I think Muhammad Ali said it best: ‘Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.'"
Lance Wormick

On Saturdays you can find Lance Wormick riding the trails with Trips For Kids Charlotte as he’s done for six years. He also sets up rides and makes sure bikes are in working order before leading rides on trails throughout Charlotte. “Volunteering for the Saturday morning rides is the highlight of what I do with Trips for Kids because I get to be on the same level as the kids riding trails with me … These trail rides I enjoy so much as a volunteer and avid cyclist truly forms a new path of success to these kids. I often see kids who are initially discouraged and fearful of why lie ahead at the beginning of a ride and not only do they get the hang of riding a mountain bike, they conquer some of the challenges the trails throw at us with smiles and a new found confidence (and admittedly sometimes with sore legs and/or bruises) at the end the day. I hope to show them that in life we have to face our fears or doubts we have within, but with the right support we can achieve greatness, even if it means falling down in order to get back up!”

Genie White has been coming to Wing Haven Gardens all her life because the Clarksons were family friends. She says "I even knew Tommy the bluebird and Daphne the rabbit," two of Wing Haven’s famous residents. She started volunteering in the 1970s when the Wing Haven Society was formed. Over the years she has leant her time and talents in so many ways: she was a founding member of the Garden Committee (and is currently its Chair), helped with Plant Sales in the Nursery, maintained the Rose Garden, and offered her own garden twice for the Wing Haven Gardeners’ Garden Tour. Wing Haven wouldn’t be the same without volunteers like Genie. 

Geoff Scantlebury, 70, volunteers through Hands On Charlotte, is a volunteer leader tutoring Basic Literacy and Math for Adults at CPCC Central Campus in the evening and on Saturdays he volunteers for outside projects with organizations like Friendship Gardens and the Carolina Raptor Center. Last year, through United Way of Central Carolinas, Geoff was nominated for the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award by CPCC. “I volunteer to help those less fortunate than myself,” Geoff said. On April 29, Geoff will be leading the Hands On Charlotte Day project at Charlotte Community ToolBank.

Former teacher Gerri Hoffman has been volunteering for Metrolina Association For The Blind since 2012. She drives in from South Carolina once a week for 4-5 hours to do various duties for the Vision Rehab Services Department. While there she manages the reception area, greets clients when they come in and other clerical tasks. Gerri continues to volunteer at MAB because she really enjoys the people she works with. “They are very caring and passionate about what they do,” Gerri said. “The staff at MAB is very interested in the well-being of the clients and this makes me want to do whatever I can to help.”