Volunteer Fun!

Emilee S. helping her mama by being the smiliest baby EVER. 🙂

Volunteering at GiGi’s in McHenry has not only been incredibly rewarding, but it has been so much fun. I love that when I tell my kids we are going to go “work at GiGi’s” their response is always, “GiGi’s House?! YAAAAAAAAY!” It’s an opportunity for them to hang out with with their Auntie Christine (8, with DS) and the other awesome kids who come with their dedicated parents to help make the Playhouse what it is.

So while we parents are doing this:

Our kids are building forts, reading stories, playing games and making friends.

Christine and Logan in the fort reading.

Christine, Jenna and Logan being buds and watching a movie! There’s enough room for everybody! 🙂

Christine, Micah, Jonah, Logan and Jeremiah hanging out in the fort!

I love the time we spend at the Playhouse and the people we meet there. I feel very fortunate to have this volunteer opportunity which allows me to help build something for my sister and other kids like her… and even more fortunate that my kids are welcomed into the fun! They can play and see first-hand how fun volunteering can be. My hope is that I’m raising future GiGi’s volunteers! An evening spent making books for the Literacy Program, chatting with new friends and watching my kids and my sister build friendships is an evening well spent, in my mind.

Plus I get to see happy faces like these!

If that doesn’t make you grin from ear to ear, I don’t know what would. 🙂

If you are interested in volunteering at the Playhouse, we would love to have you. We are growing by leaps and bounds, and we always need people to help make books, assist our programming people and many, many other things… Most volunteer opportunities are child-friendly meaning if you want to bring your kids, you can! Please leave a message at the Playhouse by calling (815) 385 – PLAY if you want to be in on the fun! 🙂