Volunteering Happens Anytime

Yesterday I was helping to prep the mailers for CVNL's upcoming Leadership Journal when an unknown woman walked into our office and said she needed a volunteer immediately! This woman turned out to be Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne, the host of a radio program for Nuestros Niños about childhood issues. They were filming for a TV special concerning childhood obesity and needed some conversation for film. This is when I found out that volunteering can happen anytime as my coworker, Casey Falvey, suggested I help her out!

We talked about various reasons leading to childhood obesity: social inequity, lack of nutritional education, and certain aspects of traditional food cultures to name a few. Then we wrapped it up by having a discussion about possible solutions primarily revolving around increased access to and education about nutrition. After that we took a couple pictures, she let me knew I'd be on TV, and then we went our separate ways.

It wasn't until about an hour later when I was looking at her business card that I realized I recognized her name. My best friend's roommate is the AmeriCorps VISTA at her organization! I was suddenly struck by small-world-syndrome and shot off a message to my VISTA friend that confirmed that she does indeed know Marisol.

So watch out everyone, volunteering can happen anytime and it could land you on TV!