This Thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to thank all of the volunteers of Adoption Network Cleveland…all the volunteers that are currently active and all the volunteers that helped contribute to make the organization what it is today! As the volunteer coordinator, I have been privileged to work with you and get to know you on a more personal level.

In the past year, 174 volunteers contributed 3,351 hours of service, valued at $71,000. Although that is a really great statistic, it doesn’t really speak to what volunteers have actually done for the organization this past year. We didn’t actually “save” that money because we didn’t have it to spend in the first place. Instead, think of it like this—we were able to DO so much more with what we did have!

Not only do I want to THANK everyone for every hour they have invested, I also want to recognize a few of the different ways in which volunteers have been able to help us accomplish MORE this past year.

Here are a couple of things we would never have been able to do without volunteers:

• Permanency Champion Mentors built relationships with 43 youth in permanent custody waiting for adoption
• General Support and Discussion Meeting Co-Facilitators touched the lives of 197 individuals impacted by adoption or foster care
• Youth Activities Assistants allowed us to provide childcare for 139 families in our Adoptive Family Support Group
• Search managers helped 36 adoptee/birthfamily searches through to completion
• Bakers provided baked goods for over 50 programs

So, I just want to say…
Thank you for sharing your own stories and compassion
Thank you for reaching out to someone in need
Thank you for making the choice to give of your time
Thank you for all the times you went above and beyond
And thank you for all you have done to make Adoption Network Cleveland what it is today!

Wishing you and your family all the best this Holiday Season!

Sincerely,
Your Volunteer Coordinator

If you are you interested in volunteering with Adoption Network Cleveland, please call me at (216) 482-2312 to get started today!