Volunteers’ time helps provide critical care for women, children

This paid piece is sponsored by Children’s Home Society.

For 16 years, Elizabeth Whalen has spent several hours a week, year-round in the pre-K and kindergarten class at Loving School at Sioux Falls Children’s Home Society.

Whalen, now 73, first had a career as a teacher.

“I loved teaching, but I was really bad at discipline,” she said. She taught Latin and English, transitioned to counseling and then became a copy editor and medical writer. Whalen also has volunteered consistently at various organizations since college.

When Whalen began volunteering at CHS, she would go in and play with the children.

“In the last few years, it has evolved into this wonderful situation. First, I either read a story to them or give them a little lesson on animals,” she said.

“Then, best of all, I sit in a rocking chair. And I hug and rock them while they’re watching a movie. They take turns, and it’s totally voluntary. It’s the perfect job for me — I can truly give them unconditional love because I don’t have to discipline them.”

Whalen knows that safe physical contact is good for the children. Beyond that, she realizes that having someone they can depend on, who comes every week at the same time, helps them build trust.

“I fall in love with each kid at first sight, and it doesn’t matter whether he or she is misbehaving or being sweet,” she said. “I feel a connection with them and — for some reason — the timing works right that they’re with me for a short enough period of time that it doesn’t break my heart when they graduate to first grade.”

Along the way, Whalen has collected many fun stories about the children.

“One of the best is about a little boy who early on was always very hard to get off my lap,” she said. “I always ask them what their favorite animal is because I give them stuffies for their birthdays. So I asked this little boy, and without hesitating, he said, ‘My favorite animal is you!’ Some of the kids laughed, and I explained that people are animals, too, so it became a good lesson. But that he could even think that way was so precious.”

She has noticed that everybody she has met at CHS truly is dedicated to the kids.

“Cheryl (Lundin, Loving School teacher) and Kathy (Iverson, teacher assistant) are the best teachers I’ve ever seen anywhere, and they just do miracles for these kids,” Whalen said.

“The children are the most important thing. It’s an amazing place filled with amazing employees. I am awed by the people who work at CHS, and I feel grateful every time, every day I volunteer there.”

April marks a time to recognize volunteers broadly, but at Children’s Home Society, they’re appreciated daily — and a key reason why the organization is able to deliver on its mission.

“I encourage people to volunteer at CHS. I have been volunteering since 1971, and I have never volunteered at an organization that was more dedicated to its cause,” Whalen said.

CHS is so grateful for her service that the organization recently nominated her for a Lifetime Volunteer Award through the Helpline Center’s Spirit of Volunteerism Awards.

For Whalen, though, the reward comes every week.

“I love doing it so much. It’s the highlight of my week; it lifts me up,” she said.

Black Hills Children’s Home volunteer tackles ‘a little bit of everything’

Retired legal secretary Mary Ann Myers, 77, volunteers at the Children’s Home Foundation offices in Rapid City once a week. Event and volunteer specialist Abby Sharp usually has a list prepared, which Myers calls “a little bit of everything.”

Tasks can include working on Foundation mailings, washing toys for Children’s Home Child Advocacy Center, wrapping presents, sorting donations, transporting items between Rapid City and Rockerville, and more.

Myers often works side by side with Cheryl, a woman she met while volunteering who has become a good friend.

“We say, the more things that Abby gives us to do, the faster we work and the faster we visit,” Myers said.

“It’s a good place to work or to volunteer. Theresa (Schreiner, assistant director, development and events) and Abby are awesome people with good Christian values, and I enjoy volunteering there. It makes my day, and I know I’m only a small part of Children’s Home, but we all work together and make it work.”

In her volunteer role, Myers doesn’t interact with the children or families that CHS serves. But she feels deeply connected to clients through her volunteer work.

“Every year, we get a number of boxes of new coats donated by one of the local service organizations,” Myers said.“Once in a while, somebody from the Child Advocacy Center will come over with a child, and they’ll pick out a coat. Quite often when the child sees the coat they’re getting, they’re so excited, and it just gives us goosebumps!”

Myers urges others to volunteer for CHS.

“If they’re a good fit, they will very much enjoy it — and they will know that they’re helping make a difference for the kids,” she said.

Helping victims find their voice

Natalie Harms signed up to volunteer at Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety — then Children’s Inn — about 11 years ago. She heard external relations coordinator Tom Roberts of CHS give a talk about one of his Christmas books, and he mentioned volunteer opportunities.

Harms, 50, had always wanted to volunteer, so she went to both Sioux Falls Children’s Home and Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety to find out what options were available. Ultimately, she signed up to be a court greeter for the shelter because the hours worked well with her schedule.

In this role, she works with victims of domestic violence once a week who are seeking protection orders or attending court.

“I check in people, and if they are the petitioner, I ask if they want to speak to one of our advocates,” she said. Harms then refers them to an advocate from Shelter for Family Safety or The Compass Center.

It’s an emotional time for survivors. “Sometimes they’re scared,” Harms said. “In this one case, it involved a kid. He was so scared — and I just had to reassure him that he was safe there. They can’t hurt you there.

“And sometimes, I just try to calm them down because I’m the first person they see when they come up to the courtroom. Some of them have never been to court. Some don’t want to speak to an advocate. Others may break down, and I’ll just say, ‘How about if get you an advocate?’”

Harms also sometimes witnesses disturbing behavior from perpetrators, who often are fearful and angry themselves.

“If I can help just one person, it makes me feel good. And I enjoy helping others,” she said.

Volunteering at the courthouse isn’t the only thing Harms does to help people. In fact, her involvement with Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety prompted her to explore additional opportunities. She became a rape crisis advocate and began volunteering at the Family Visitation Center.

Then, Harms became a foster parent. And in 2022, she adopted two children, age 4 and 7. Now a single parent of two with a full-time job, she has scaled back her other activities, and her only volunteer position is for Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety, which is where it all began.

To anyone considering volunteering, Harms said: “Do it. Don’t hesitate, don’t hold back. It’s good to help people in the community. And it gives you a good feeling when you are doing something for others.”

Whether they’re cuddling children, sorting donations, guiding survivors or folding paper swans — a new volunteer opportunity you’ll hear more about soon! — volunteers are truly a blessing for CHS and their clients.

To learn more about CHS, visit chssd.org.

To inquire about volunteering, please contact:

• Sioux Falls Children’s Home: Faron.Lais@chssd.org
• Black Hills Children’s Home: Abby.Sharp@chssd.org
• Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety:  Madeline Mortimore@chssd.org