East Coast to West Coast – A Volunteers Adventure, Meet Nadia

GiGi’s Playhouse San Diego is located in one of the US’s greatest cities and many people including volunteers often fall in love with it. This is where the San Diego Playhouse benefits, we receive amazing folks such as Nadia, a volunteer who moved from Rochester, NY and who had volunteered at our Rochester Playhouse.

When we reached out to the Rochester Playhouse to inquire about Nadia, Kristin Housel, M.S., CCC-SLP, Director of Playhouse Operations & Speech Language Development offered “Lucky you!! Nadia is amazing, she just left us here and we miss her already.” We knew Nadia would make a great addition to the Playhouse and fit right in, becoming a shining light with our adult programs.

Here at GiGi’s Playhouse, we are a connected network and once you or a family is part of one Playhouse, you have access to each and every Playhouse including our Virtual Playhouse and Mexico Playhouses.

Click here for a complete list of locations: https://gigisplayhouse.org/locations/

We love hearing how volunteers came to be and here’s what Nadia had to offer:

How did you originally find GiGi’s?//What made you want to volunteer?

“I found GiGi’s while in school in Rochester, NY. I was studying neuroscience on the pre-med track and wanted to spend some time volunteering and giving back to the community. I started by volunteering during cooking programs, social programs such as fantastic friends or teentastic, and tutored math. Not long after I started volunteering, I fell in love with the GiGi’s community and realized this grew into more than simply an opportunity to volunteer.”

What brought you to GiGi’s San Diego?

“I grew up in San Diego, CA, but didn’t learn about GiGi’s until I went to college in Rochester, NY. When I moved back to San Diego after graduating undergrad for my gap year before attending medical school, I knew my involvement with GiGi’s was going to remain constant. Immediately after moving back to San Diego, I emailed the Site Manager at GiGi’s San Diego and the rest was history. I now come in for the Tuesday fitness programs as well as Friday and Saturday social programs. Since my first day at this location, I have felt nothing but welcomed from everyone.”

Are the Playhouse different? If so, how? If not, what do you find similar?

“The playhouses are similar in some aspects yet different in others. Both playhouses had Teentastic and Fantastic Friends, as well as a fitness program. Both playhouses had outreach programs as well, but it was interesting to see how these programs differed based on the resources available in the area. At the Rochester playhouse, for example, the Playhouse collaborated with the Amerks, a popular hockey team in the Rochester area, for a trip to the local ice rink where volunteers and participants skated alongside the Amerks! At the San Diego Playhouse, the events surround what is popular in the San Diego area. For example, I recently helped volunteer during a zoo trip where we took a trip to the San Diego Zoo for the day! Most importantly, both playhouses share the quality of being home to an incredible community of the most welcoming, fun, and kind people!”

What is your favorite thing about volunteering?

“My favorite thing is definitely the community at GiGi’s. All the people I’ve met in both locations, from volunteers and staff to participants and parents/aides, have been so incredibly welcoming and kind. There is truly no place like GiGi’s. Whether I am having a great or not-so-great day, walking through the doors of GiGi’s and immediately being met by smiles always lifts my spirits!”

We absolutely love hearing this and want anyone walking through our doors to feel that amazing feeling of Acceptance!

Is there anything you think we could approve on? if so, what?

“The only thing I can think of is more frequent programming, but I know that is dependent on volunteer and location availability, so I am not sure much can be done other than getting more volunteers and possibly GiGi’s own SD location, which is a lot easier said than done.”

We are certainly working on both areas. It is because of volunteers such as Nadia, families and community members sharing their experience with others, that message creates a word of mouth wild fire! So lets keep these sharing.

If you would like to support the mission of GiGi’s Playhouse San Diego, please visit our website or contact us at sandiego@gigisplayhouse.org

We have many ways for you to show your support such as volunteering, becoming a sponsor (general or event), becoming a monthly donor, or visiting our wish list. More can be found here: https://gigisplayhouse.org/sandiego/support-us/