Making a Difference in Texas: El Paso Finds Hope

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Luis Valdez. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Luis Valdez is a resident and volunteer in the El Paso community in Texas. He has supported many community organizations, including several nonprofit organizations such as El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, the El Paso Center of Diabetes, the Underserved Communities Foundation and the Child Crisis Center of El Paso.

He considers himself newer to helping his community, but his impact has been monumental in such a short time. Overall, the El Paso community focuses on overall wellness for its residents, such as childhood cancer, vision screening, environmental health, diabetes, hunger and much more.

When Luis is not working his 9 to 5 job, he enjoys stepping out into his community and helping. His efforts have made a significant difference in the lives of many individuals in need.

Luis volunteers 30 to 60 hours a month. In addition to working on several service projects, he serves as the treasurer for the El Paso Five Points Lions Club. He has also played an essential part in helping to raise $25,000 at El Paso’s Dinner in the Dark event. During this signature event, Luis demonstrated his commitment to making a positive impact by raising funds for his community. He has also successfully raised funds and helped receive donations of 100 new shoes for children.

Luis’ contribution to his community remains steady, and he hopes to continue doing more for many years.

What inspires you to volunteer?

Being able to make a difference and impact somebody else’s life inspires me to volunteer. It can be the smallest act of active service, but its impact on someone’s life inspires me the most. There are many times when we can serve others for each other, and they may never know who helped or provided anything for them. But I will always remember that someone was there to do it.

Tell us about your volunteer role with the El Paso Five Points Lions Club and other community organizations.

Not only am I involved with the El Paso Lions Club, but I’m also involved in various nonprofit community organizations. One of them is the Cancer Center for Diabetes, which is very important to me because I have family members who were impacted by that disease.

I also saw the difference these organizations may make in the community. El Paso has a close-knit sense of community, and I was confident much could be done. I am a serial volunteer throughout the community.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

It’s important to me to volunteer. I’m a sustaining member and a volunteer with the Underserved Communities Foundation. The foundation is geared toward individuals exiting the foster system or who are unhoused. It helps equip them to be sustainable solutions through small portions of help. We do an apartment kit, which includes jackets for kids and much more. This allows us to fundraise and assist the communities with their fundraising events.

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?

I would like to grow with the organizations I volunteer with. I recently went back to school to finish my degree, so I sort of stepped back a little bit, but now that I have completed my degree, I feel I can make a more significant impact. I would love to be in a critical position or a key role. I don’t know exactly what that looks like, but I want to make a more significant difference in the community.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

I enjoy being of service to others. I was in the funeral industry for 14 years. Recently, I was in economic development for the city for about a month and a half, and I had just started a new career in emergency management. So, my passion for serving others has always aligned with my career goals. And I know I helped a little bit to ease their burden and pain. Although I will probably never see them again, it’s very satisfying. They may not remember me, but it just makes me feel good inside that I was able to help them. It’s incredible to see how you can make an impact.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

I’ve learned how much my community needs support. We never know what someone is experiencing. You can see someone and assume they are happy. You would never think that they’re struggling. Once you step into somebody else’s shoes and see the reality, it’s not always what they show on the outside. So, I learned to appreciate what I have and that I’m blessed to be able to help others.

Tell us about future partnerships, programs or events that you are excited about.

Coming up this weekend, we have a trunk event for kids with disabilities who may not be able to trick or treat. We have organized an event with locals, and we will pass out candy to these kids who may not have the opportunity to go somewhere. We’re providing it in a safe space where parents can come along.

We’re organizing a drive for children to raise funds and awareness for people with visual impairments and disabilities.

Why do others need to get involved with causes they care about?

If you have a community willing to help and step up when needed, it brings everyone closer. You never know what someone is going through, and you also never know the connections you can make. I think it’s essential because everyone will eventually age and lose their capability. We must raise a generation committed to volunteering.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

I advise you to do it and get involved with what you can. And it doesn’t have to be a giant project or an organization. It can be small acts of service. You may never be recognized for it, and that’s okay, but knowing that you made a difference in somebody else’s life or within the community is the most rewarding thing to come out of community service.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

I would say that it’s never too late to get involved. I started volunteering through many organizations when I was in high school. I then saw the importance of lending my hand, which led me to get involved in the community. I saw the need in my community, which opened my eyes to realize that I should volunteer if I can.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Luis? Find local volunteer opportunities.