Crossing Paths through Charity

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

Chandra works at JP Morgan Chase as a senior software engineer. Since 2004, he has been living in Delaware with his wife and son. When he is not working or spending time with his family, he enjoys volunteering at Charity Crossing. 

Charity Crossing is a nonprofit organization focused on helping communities through  community initiatives, including blood, school supply and hygiene supply drives. It started in 2015 with a few friends and today it now has over 500 volunteers serving their local communities, impacting over 50,000 individuals annually. 

At Charity Crossing, Chandra spends his time managing and facilitating events. He also oversees the process of receiving packages from companies like Amazon and Walmart, from unloading their donations off of trucks into Charity Crossing’s warehouse, to sorting through and organizing the donations, to reloading them onto Charity Crossing vans before distributing them to different communities. 

Chandra thoroughly enjoys this collaborative effort to give back to his community and finds it rewarding. 

What inspires you to volunteer? 

I started volunteering together with my friends in 2021 through Charity Crossing in Delaware. I was inspired by the impact of the pandemic and how it began to severely affect the lives of people within my community and throughout my state. During this period, I noticed a significant amount of people were struggling for various reasons at once, and this inspired me to participate in community-wide events and throughout different locations in Delaware. 

Tell us about your volunteer role with Charity Crossing. 

At Charity Crossing I work as a warehouse manager. To further elaborate, I am the administrator who manages the warehouse volunteers and their hours. I also facilitate events hosted by Charity Crossing every week. This is something I thoroughly enjoy doing. The most rewarding part about is my role is interacting and managing all the volunteers. Before becoming the warehouse manager, I volunteered in the field. I would visit different communities where I would pack, load and distribute items for people. Experiencing these different positions at Charity Crossing has been fundamental to my growth and commitment. 

What inspired you to get started with this initiative? 

Before starting this initiative, my childhood friends pushed me to get involved and it became a huge inspiration. I saw firsthand the positive impact Charity Crossing had on their lives, and I felt it would be perfect for me. Also, I find joy in helping my community and other communities. I enjoy coordinating and attending community events, as this is something dear to my heart.

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

At the age of 54, I hope that I remain youthful, but also get other youth involved. We must continue doing the work we do at Charity Crossing and I hope to not only further develop our presence in Delaware, but that it grows in other states throughout the nation as well. As for now, we have locations in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey but I am hoping we soon expand. 

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

The most rewarding part about working with Charity Crossing is my work being recognized. Originally, I joined this charity to lend a hand to my community and now I am being recognized for my contributions, which is a nice feeling to be celebrated for doing good things within my community. Also, in 2022, Charity Crossing awarded me with an Employee Appreciation Award for my contributions to the organization. 

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer? 

During my time with Charity Crossing, I have learned a lot about myself, and it has benefited me professionally as well. Charity Crossing has reminded me of my drive to complete any task in front of me regardless of “tough times.” During the winter season, even in inclement weather, we work. This reminds me of the importance of contributing and making a difference in your community regardless of minor obstacles in the way.  

Charity Crossing taught me how to operate a warehouse, manage the warranties, manage community events and be a reliable leader for other volunteers. In return, it professionally and personally reminds me how to manage my position, build my skills, work with my team and teach my son the importance of giving. 

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

When I joined in 2021, we had 50 to 70 volunteers. Today we have grown to an even bigger organization of volunteers who volunteer on at least a weekly basis at Charity Crossing. I hope that we continue to grow and make a difference. 

But when I am not volunteering at Charity Crossing, I work at JP Morgan Chase (JPMC) as a software engineer. While at JPMC, I have volunteered at several work-sponsored events and I am looking forward to contributing to more soon.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about? 

Volunteering is not only important for personal growth but for community growth as well. It is nice to get awards, but it is important to help your community however possible. For me, I work many hours weekly totaling about 10 to 12 hours a week. Other volunteers work at least once a week and that is fine but it’s important to maximize your time and contributions, which makes a significant difference. 

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering? 

Just get involved and volunteer your time. I always encourage my friends and their kids to get involved. This will benefit my personal and professional self-development while gaining immense experience. Not only that, but it will allow them to connect with their community and have fun doing so at the same time. 

What do you want people to learn from your story? 

I’ve mentioned this several times, but I think the biggest thing people can learn from my story is the power of volunteering and the impact it can have on your life personally and professionally. These are major keys to success and fulfillment. 

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