Volunteer Spotlight: Maggie

October is Down Syndrome Acceptance Month, and we want to put the spotlight on one of our volunteers, Maggie, who has a heart for our participants with Down syndrome! Our volunteers at GiGi’s Playhouse make up the entire organization. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to offer such amazing programs and build the community around this organization. This month, we interviewed Maggie, who has been a huge help here at GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster. You may recognize Maggie from Fantastic Friends and GiGiFIT.

Maggie decided to become a volunteer after watching the TV program, ‘Born This Way’, a documentary style series that follows the lives of seven young adults with Down syndrome. “I was so touched and inspired to get involved. I began by looking into the Best Buddies program which I thought would be a good fit with my mentoring background in Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Project Search students at LGH. This search then led me to GiGi’s!” Maggie explained.

After attending the volunteer orientation, Maggie was so impressed with the mission and overall culture at GiGi’s Playhouse and decided that volunteering here was the best way to get involved. “Volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse is fun! Not only do you get to help make a difference in the local community but you get to make friends too!” Playhouse leaders have put a lot of time and effort into figuring out their volunteers’ strengths and placing them into programs where they are able to thrive with the group. Maggie is “proud to be a volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster because we are a phenomenal team and together we can do great things!”

At GiGi’s Playhouse, we challenge ourselves to live out Generation G: Be Accepting, Be Generous, and Be Kind, and Maggie is grateful to be a part of the positive impact that the Playhouse has on the community. “In the midst of an extremely difficult year for many, GiGi’s Lancaster has been there as a great support. We have persevered together and enjoyed our time, virtually and distanced, with talking and sharing, exercising, cooking up some treats in the kitchen together virtually, playing games, learning, laughing and dreaming about more opportunities to come.”

If you would like to become a volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster, contact us at lancaster@gigisplayhouse.org to find out how you can get involved.