One Woman’s Journey of Preparing New Yorkers of All Ages for Success in Life

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Elsa C. Lorenzo. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light. 

New Yorker Elsa C. Lorenzo exemplifies the spirit of selfless volunteerism, dedicating her time and energy to assist individuals at nearly every stage of life. Over the past four years, she’s amassed nearly 1,500 volunteer hours through her varied and impactful efforts. 

For starters, each week, Elsa can be found tutoring young children who struggle with reading, helping them grasp basic phonetic sounds and sight words essential for reading proficiency and academic success. Her devotion to this volunteer effort has transformed the lives of 40 elementary-age students, setting them on a path toward a brighter academic future. 

In addition to her work with young children, Elsa serves as a mentor for young adults preparing to enter the workforce. Through I’Raise International, she has mentored five young adults, offering guidance and serving as a positive role model. Her efforts have helped these individuals navigate the often-daunting process of starting their careers, providing them with the tools and confidence they need to succeed. Elsa’s service extends to JFK International Airport, where she aids adults and families as part of the Traveler’s Aid program. She has assisted over 10,000 passengers seeking travel information, ensuring they have the support they need for a smooth and stress-free travel experience.  

And as a member of the RSVP newsletter team, Elsa writes informative articles for her fellow AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. She has collaborated on more than 20 articles, highlighting the work of fellow volunteers and promoting national service in New York City. Finally, Elsa’s passion for education and financial literacy is evident in her work with the Fresh Air Fund. She has given three career presentations to middle school students.  

Read on to find out more about Elsa’s efforts and why she finds volunteering so important. 

Tell us about your volunteer roles. 

The one that I volunteer the most with is Reading Partners. During the school year, which is from October to May, I volunteer about seven to eight hours a week with them. I’ve been with them since October of 2018. It’s just so gratifying to listen and see these children apply what we taught them and be able to progress in fluency in reading. Whether they’re 5 years old or 9 years old, you can tell they’re listening because they’re applying what we are showing them how to do in terms of reading. 

I also volunteer with Fresh Air Fund as a tutor, with I’Raise International as a mentor, I write the RSVP newsletter for Americorps and I volunteer with Traveler’s Aid – which is the only in-person role I have at the moment. The rest are through virtual meetings. 

I loved the greeting card writing I did during COVID, from 2020 to 2021. I wrote 358 cards to seniors in a Staten Island nursing home! That effort was all about making them feel good about themselves and helping them know they’re not forgotten. 

Why are these issues so important to you? 

I believe in helping the children because reading is very important in their lives, as we all know. Therefore, when they’re struggling with reading, I believe we have to help them – so they can progress, so they can learn, so they can lift themselves and so they can accomplish things in life. Without reading, they really can’t make much out of their God-given talents. 

As far as seniors, depending on the family composition and who in their families is still alive, many of them are in need of socialization. So even just receiving a card makes a difference. 

What inspired you to get started with these initiatives? 

I went through the eyes of needles building a life here in the United States. Most of the things I’m referring to were beyond my control. I believe God sent me human angels who sort of smoothed the way for me. In the same manner, I’d like to be able to assist others as well and make it easier for them. I think I’m doing that when I’m helping children figure out how to read, decode words and comprehend what they’re reading. It’s very encouraging to be working with kids because they do listen!  

There are some kids who might reject you or reject me, and when that happens I can go back to the reading coordinator and ask for a switch. That can happen with this type of work. But during the session when we read something really meaningful or applicable to life, I just try to point out lessons about humility or perseverance or growth mindset. We all get nervous when we’re unfamiliar with something, but when we become conversant with something, we’re going to make it! There are a few seeds we’re able to plant when we’re reading with them, and hopefully that helps them growing up. 

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

The ability to help a teenager, through mentoring, overcome the emotional difficulties she’s going through. It’s quite rewarding to be trusted. She shared her poems and her haikus with me. This child went through so many trials and so much pain due to her family situation. Preventing her from going down a harmful path is the most meaningful to me. 

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

A lot of people are in need of help, irrespective of age or economic situation. Of course, the majority of people I meet aren’t necessarily in the affluent bracket, but these are the people who need greater chances in life. They need to be equipped – in my opinion – with the ability, not only through reading or the application of positive techniques, but also through building their self confidence. Some people are very shy. Some people feel like they may not be able to do things at all. But if you show them the path, the light at the end of the tunnel, it gives them hope and courage. And hopefully they can make a better life for themselves. 

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering? 

It’s the most worthwhile thing to be involved in. Also, it’s not just giving your time and effort to others. It’s also learning. I learn from the kid who’s 5, a child who’s 12, a teenager who’s 15. The training I receive from the different organizations is a learning process as well. For example, Reading Partners provides training on race, equity, diversity and inclusion. All these techniques we learn assist us in gaining rapport with children.  

As volunteers, we also have to persevere. We gain a lot of friends. We broaden our knowledge. I came to this country with two suitcases and a few hundred dollars. I’ve seen other volunteers overcome immense challenges. Learn to get involved. Whatever you accomplish, you can’t do it alone. I’ve had helpers – or earth angels – all along the way, and I value my experience very much. 

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