This Volunteer is Helping Break the Cycle of Period Poverty
Randi (right) receives the Regeneron Volunteer of the Year Award in 2026 for her work with the MoonCatcher Project./ Courtesy Randi Broadwell
MeetDaily Point of Light Awardhonoree Randi Broadwell. Read her story, and nominatean outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Around the world, girls without access to period products often have to make do with whatever is on hand whether that be old rags, sponges or leaves. For many, that means staying home from school during their periods, and for some, it means dropping out altogether, closing the door on dreams of becoming a doctor, a teacher, or building any future they’d imagined for themselves. The MoonCatcher Project was founded to break that cycle, providing reusable menstrual kits, paired with health education, to girls in Kenya, Malawi and Uganda, alongside free period pantries across New York’s Capital Region.
Since joining MoonCatcher in 2024, Randi Broadwell has put her public health expertise and passion for volunteering to work for the cause, helping the organization track its impact and expand its reach. Her commitment carried her up through the board, from co-vice president to now co-president. Between governance, managing pantries, and coordinating fundraisers and volunteer events, she now dedicates around 400 hours a year, grounded in the knowledge that a single $7 kit can keep a girl in school for years.
What first inspired you to get involved with The MoonCatcher Project?
I did a public health volunteering fellowship in South Africa after I graduated from college, which inspired me to get my master’s degree in community-based primary health care. After that, I was looking for a place to use what I’d learned. Regeneron, where I work, has a volunteer week called Day for Doing Good, and I signed up for a MoonCatcher event in 2023. I’d already learned about period poverty in my master’s program, so it really resonated with me and it’s an organization local to me, so I felt like I could make an impact both abroad and in my own backyard.
Randi stands in front of a poster that shows what is included in a MoonCatcher Kit./ Courtesy Randi Broadwell
Can you explain what period poverty is and what MoonCatcher’s mission is?
In simple terms, it costs money to safely take care of your period. If you’re already living below the poverty line, that’s another expense on top of everything else. In New York state, the average amount women spend on period products per month is about $15. Girls around the world often drop out of school because they don’t have a way to safely and cleanly handle their periods, and that keeps a cycle going. That’s why we give reusable kits to our global communities. The reusable kits are fitted to size, so girls can use them for five, six years or longer. In the U.S., people tend to prefer disposable products, so we stock free, 24/7 period pantries outside businesses.
What does your role involve day to day?
We’re a smaller organization, so as board leadership, I work with our bookkeeper to make sure the board understands our financials and can make informed decisions about funding. That connects to sending money to our sewing guilds in Kenya, Malawi and Uganda, looking at fundraising logistics, and community outreach and period product drives with local businesses.
Of all your responsibilities, which is your favorite?
I love events and talking to people, but my strength is really the data. Whether I’m pulling spreadsheets from the period pantries for a grant application or an end-of-year report, I love being able to show people the good we’re doing with the numbers we have. That’s my favorite part — showing people the impact and why it matters.
Randi counts disposable menstrual product donations at the birthday party of Ellie Von Wellsheim, founder of the MoonCatcher Project./ Courtesy Randi Broadwell
What kind of impact has MoonCatcher made?
Last quarter alone, we gave out more than 17,000 period products across our pantries in the Capital Region. Since I joined, we’ve added pantries in Troy and will soon open one in Saratoga. Abroad, I hear the stories from our executive directors who’ve seen the kits firsthand. Girls who no longer have to worry about missing school, who are dreaming about becoming doctors, going into hospitality, going into sales. Seeing that impact is what stays with me.
Why are you so passionate about equal access to period products?
It’s something so small that can make the biggest difference. We’re not just handing girls a kit, we’re creating jobs for the women in Kenya who sew them, and we’re pairing every kit with a health curriculum, so girls understand what’s happening with their bodies. A $7 kit is barely the cost of a cup of coffee here, but it can keep a girl in school instead of getting married off or going straight to work because she can’t manage her period. It’s about giving girls the chance to choose what they want to do with their lives.
What are your long-term goals for MoonCatcher?
I’d love for more people to recognize the organization and the issue of period poverty. So many people I talk to are hearing about this for the first time. In the next five years, I want more people to know this problem exists and to know MoonCatcher is the organization helping solve it.
What do you hope people take away from your story?
I hope people look more into period poverty. It’s one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and it hasn’t gotten much attention until recently, even though half the population bleeds. I also want people to know it doesn’t take a lot of money or time to change somebody’s life.
Faith Adole has led U-VOL Foundation without pay for more than 10 years, volunteering some 200 hours a month to bring free healthcare to the communities that need it most.
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Faith Adole. Read her story, andnominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Faith Adole founded U-VOL Foundation with the conviction to use what you have, start where you are, and bring others alongside you. More than a decade later, that set of core beliefs has grown into an entirely volunteer-led healthcare relief organization serving underserved communities across the United States and Africa.
As founder, board president, and a practicing nurse practitioner, Faith volunteers roughly 200 hours a month leading free medical outreach, health screenings, clean water initiatives, maternal and newborn health education, food distribution, and humanitarian medical missions. Under her leadership, which has all been free of monetary compensation, U-VOL has now mobilized more than 1,000 volunteers and raised nearly half a million dollars in funds and medical supplies. The organization reaches thousands of people while training local clinicians to strengthen care long after volunteers leave.
Faith believes that the work is less about single events than about relationships built over years – relationships built on listening first and working alongside people, rather than assuming you have the answers. What moves her most is the ripple effect of patients returning to school, clinicians gaining confidence, and volunteers growing into leaders who serve their own communities.
OWEN SINGER WORKS A TABLE OF CANCER KICKS MERCHANDISE AT A LOCAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS WALK. /COURTESY OWEN SINGER
MeetDaily Point of Light Awardhonoree Owen Singer. Read her story, and nominatean outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Owen Singer credits breast cancer research for saving his mother’s life, and that’s why he’s doing everything he can to raise funds for it. When Owen was in eighth grade, he was faced with seeing his mother undergo cancer treatment again. By the end of the summer, when he was heading off to high school, he made his vision to fund breast cancer research a reality. He formally established Cancer Kicks, an organization that supports breast cancer research while providing comfort to those in treatment. With a catalog of more than 90 customizable products, including shoes, blankets, and apparel, every cent raised through selling Cancer Kicks’ fun merchandise is donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Thus far, he has sold more than 600 items and donated over $10,000 to the BCRF, funding more than 15 full days of cancer research.
When it comes to running the day-to-day of Cancer Kicks, Owen is doing it all. He handles everything from website development and product design to marketing and customer service. This totals about eight to 10 hours per week, which is no simple task on top of his busy high school course load. Despite the challenges, Owen is determined to keep going on the path to funding research. In fact, Owen’s experience running his own business that donates its profits to charity has directly informed his future. Now a senior in high school, Owen is planning on heading off to college next year and studying business. The knowledge he has gained running Cancer Kicks has instilled in him a variety of managerial skills, ranging from creative thinking to problem-solving, that will directly serve him in his career path. Owen’s dedication to volunteerism may have been inspired by his mother’s cancer battle, but it’s also a key part of the future he’s building for himself.
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer again when I was in eighth grade. Then she went through a mastectomy and also had to go through chemo. I watched her lean on small things to get through it, whether it was cold caps that helped keep her hair, heated blankets, or dyeing her hair pink and wearing pink Converse sneakers. It was her way of taking control of something out of her control, and that really stuck with me. I wanted to do something to turn it into something to help others and fund breast cancer research. That was how Cancer Kicks got started. I saw what she was using, and I was like, I can put the money towards a good cause instead of what I had already seen in the market, which is mostly people designing stuff to make a profit.
What inspires you to volunteer?
In terms of Cancer Kicks, breast cancer research is what saved my mom’s life. So I mean, that’s kind of my inspiration.
OWEN SINGER REPRESENTS CANCER KICKS AT A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL’S HOLIDAY FAIR. /COURTESY OWEN SINGER
Tell us about your volunteer role with Cancer Kicks.
I’m the founder and the only member, so I do everything. We sell pretty much anything from hoodies and shoes to blankets and accessories. It’s all customizable. I run every part of it. I design the products, manage the website and the store, reach out to companies and organizations for potential partnerships, and handle customer and corporate orders. It’s continued to grow and grow. All the money goes directly to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
There’s the feeling of helping others. There’s also the closeness that has brought my mom and me together. It’s also hearing from people who’ve bought something and telling me what it meant to them. For example, someone who bought it for their wife who was going through treatment; she completely loved it and wore the blanket to every single chemo appointment. Every time I get a sale, or every time some sort of profit is made, it’s knowing the money went to a good cause.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
I’ve kind of learned how to run a business. Not just having the idea, because I’m sure I’ve had plenty of charitable ideas. But I’ve learned how to build a website, manage the whole supply chain, and everything from shipping stuff directly to consumers to handling when things don’t go right. It’s through this whole experience, not just through Cancer Kicks, that I also learned more about stepping up. While my mom was in treatment, I had to step up on my own, whether it was just arranging my rides to basketball practice via my friends’ parents. That kind of carried over to how I run Cancer Kicks.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
I think everyone’s had something that’s touched them personally. You don’t need to be an adult. I think I was either 14 or 15 when I started this. I didn’t need to be an adult to do anything. I had help with some of the legal side, but you don’t really need to have a ton of resources to make a difference. I started with a product idea, and honestly, I don’t put a ton of money into it, and it’s turned into something that’s donated over $10,000 to breast cancer research. The small steps add up faster than people might think.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
Start with something personal. Being personal to you definitely helps with both motivation and the cause. Be prepared to do everything yourself. It depends on your product, but for me, I did all the designing, marketing, outreach, and the legal stuff. I didn’t wait until I had a team. It started with an idea and just expanded from there. One more thing I would say is don’t be afraid to ask people, whether it’s for them to eventually buy a product or a partnership. The worst case is they can say no, and like a lot of people do end up saying yes.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
I would say that you can turn something bad that’s happened in your life around.
You’re able to make a bigger difference than you might think, no matter what your age might be. You can make a difference doing anything, really.
JEAN SIAO (LEFT) STANDS WITH HONOREES AT THE ASIAN AMERICAN FEDERATION’S GALA. /COURTESY JEAN SIAO
MeetDaily Point of Light Awardhonoree Jean Siao. Read her story, and nominatean outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Jean Siao wants AAPI New Yorkers to have every opportunity to succeed in their city, and she’s doing whatever she can to make it happen. As the Board Secretary of the Asian American Federation, an organization whose mission is centered on amplifying the influence and enhancing the well-being of the pan-Asian American community, Jean guides the CEO on goals and budgets, advises on strategy, and fundraises year-round, especially for the Impact Awards gala. Pulling from the detail-oriented nature of her professional career as a scientist, she diligently prepares for the monthly Executive Committee meetings and quarterly board meetings, where she’s responsible for tracking tasks for the board committees, compiling meeting notes, and serving as a source of support for the Board Chair and CEO on organizational strategy, particularly in areas of research and data collection.
She also works to cultivate an active donor base, channeling funds into the organization so they can help to strengthen small businesses and direct service nonprofits, aid owners in navigating compliance and digital marketing, and turn data into insights that inform policymakers. During her time with the organization, Jean’s diverse accomplishments have included working on the federation’s Hope Against Hate campaign, which provides safety tools and advocates with government while aiding victims of anti-Asian bias. She’s also launched a Mental Health Awareness initiative and built the first local map of in-language providers, helping to advance civic knowledge and rights.
Looking forward, Jean hopes to continue being an active participant in crafting the future of the organization. They just hired a new associate director, and she’d love to be more hands-on with this person and craft the future direction of the research arm. Of course, she’s planning to continue fundraising and seeking out additional board members who can advocate for the organization. Jean believes there is plenty of work to be done ahead of her, and she’s eager to channel her passion for volunteer work into bettering her community.
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
I went to an event with some work colleagues and met someone at this event, and she turned out to be the chair of the board of directors at the Asian American Federation. We started talking about current events in 2017, and we talked about what we cared about in terms of socioeconomic situations in the country. Then, I went to a couple of galas, which are fundraising events for the Asian American Federation, and I was blown away by the passion and the enthusiasm from both staff and the board of directors. I was inspired to join them.
What inspires you to volunteer?
I’ve always liked the idea of volunteering, but never really had time. I would instead donate money, especially once I started working after school. But I felt at the time that I really wanted to do more for my community and to do more to amplify our voice in the community where we live. Also, as a scientist, I’m very passionate about data. The federation actually has an arm of the organization that’s dedicated to collecting and analyzing data and then publishing reports on it. That, plus the fact that I wanted to do something for the community, made me decide I wanted to devote the time to this. Initially, it was four board meetings a year, so it wasn’t really tough. Once I joined the executive committee as secretary, that took that started to take more time.
EAN SIAO (CENTER) STANDS WITH HER WORK COLLEAGUES, WHOM SHE INVITED TO JOIN HER AT THE IMPACT AWARDS TO CELEBRATE THE FEDERATION. /COURTESY JEAN SIAO
Tell us about your volunteer role with the Asian American Federation.
It’s a lot of meetings. It’s great because we get to really talk about the ongoing activities, celebrate the successes, and plan for the future of the federation. Big-picture-wise, it very much feels like I’m making a difference both to current goings-on as well as helping to plan the future direction of the organization. Practically speaking, most of it is trying to get other board members to take action. It’s really joining in whenever I can with ideas or suggestions or taking on actions that we end up discussing. Then the other part of what I do is actually fundraising. We have one fundraising gala a year, and we also do regular fundraising events throughout the year. I talk with folks that I know or organizations or groups that I know to see whether or not I could drum up funding for the organization.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
Interacting with the hardworking and very passionate staff. The federation has member agencies and partner organizations in the community, and so I also get to meet the staff and some of the community members that they serve. The federation ourselves aren’t always making contact or connecting with individuals in the community, so it’s really impactful when I get to meet the people that we serve and the staff that is out there day to day doing the hard work.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
I’ve learned that volunteering is hard, but making and maintaining those connections that I have started is really important for any initiative, whether it’s networking for work, networking for fundraising, or other goals. Maintaining those relationships is really important. I’m constantly making outreach and reinitiating contact just to say hello.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
I think It’s because it’s really satisfying to be working on something. Giving dollars is really nice if you can do it, because it’s also satisfying in a way. There’s a concrete, tangible goal for giving that money, but giving time is probably even more impactful for me, partly because we don’t have that much time, so every minute does count. Also that it’s just an additional point of satisfaction that I’m doing something that makes a difference. It’s something that I care about, and it’s goals and people that I care about. It just makes that much more important for me to do.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
Sign up for something that they do care about. Figure out if it’s food insecurity, combating poverty, or education. Whatever it is they care about, find that first volunteering effort. That very first touchpoint establishes that contact, and it should only take a couple of hours, but it’s so worth it. Hopefully that’ll get them going to do more and more and more.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
Volunteering can take on so many facets. There are so many ways that we can contribute to the community. It’s whatever I could give at the time. When I was still in school and I couldn’t afford to contribute financially, I would give $10 to the food pantry, or I would volunteer a couple of hours on the weekend repacking food. But once I was able to make that financial contribution, that is what I ended up doing. What I want folks to know is what I’ve learned, which is that whatever way I could help others is the most impactful way. It really doesn’t matter what that looks like or how much that is. It’s what I can give at that moment.
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Noreen Hosny. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Noreen Hosny’s background in molecular biology and visual arts might not be the most common combination you hear of, but she’s using those skills to change the world. Fascinated by art from a young age, Noreen was always intrigued by how graphic design can influence the way we process and understand information.
Noreen Hosny founded a pro bono educational design initiative focused on improving health literacy by making information easier to understand.
In 2019, she established a pro bono educational design initiative focused on improving health literacy by making health information easier for patients and families to understand. But it was during the COVID-19 pandemic that Noreen really started to make headway. In a period when organizations weren’t able to do the typical fundraising and live events that helped them function, Noreen stepped in to help.
She’s partnered with more than 30 clinics and nonprofits nationwide to create everything from information on hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans with traumatic brain injuries to cancer prevention materials for use in New Jersey free clinics. Noreen is now designing donor-facing materials and annual reports for organizations, giving them the power to successfully fundraise and make a bigger impact. Thus far, she’s saved these organizations more than $90,000 in design costs.
Looking forward, Noreen has a ton of projects in the works. She wants to teach others about graphic design, and she’d like to host more workshops where people can learn the skills. She’s already partnered with some local organizations and taught K -12 students how to make infographics. But there’s also one major endeavor in front of her: medical school. While Noreen always knew she had a sense for science and the arts, her ability to combine her skills to make an impact through volunteerism demonstrates an acute awareness of how one’s innate skills can make a difference. There’s no doubt she’ll continue this mission in her medical career, which has been vastly informed by her passion for serving others.
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
I’ve always loved visual arts, drawing, and painting. I took a digital arts class in high school, thinking it would be something like Disney animation, and it ended up being more about graphic design. I really became fascinated by how graphic design can influence the way we process and understand information. I remembered how they carefully design things like subway signs in the city. It just made me so excited, and I really wanted to apply what I had learned.
I started the pro bono educational design initiative in 2019, shortly after I took that class, and I started working with local organizations in my town. When COVID hit, I found out that a lot of organizations couldn’t do any fundraising or events with educational outreach, so I decided to expand it nationally and support those organizations whose outreach had been disrupted.
What inspires you to volunteer?
My design initiative is focused on improving health literacy, so my goal is to make health information easier to understand. Health literacy is really important to me, and, drawing on my own experiences, I see how making health information accessible can directly shape how people understand their options and make decisions about their care. When information is too technical or confusing, it can actually become a barrier for people to access the care that they need. I really wanted to volunteer to help bridge that gap using my own skills.
Tell us about your volunteer role.
I have my website, and I usually get requests through that. I meet with organizations, and I really get to understand their needs and the community that they’re serving. Then, I start researching the relevant scientific or clinical information that they want to share. Throughout those weeks, I’ll develop a lot of drafts, and I’ll send them a lot of different options, and we go from there and keep refining until they’re happy with it. Typically, they’re used in the initial consultation and patient guides. The patients will understand the benefits and risks of a procedure, and if it’s more like a community organization, then it would be used in their educational sessions. Basically, it’s working with the organization for a very long time to really understand their needs.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
Seeing the materials actually reach the people that they were created for. I spend a lot of time researching, designing, and revising. I think the most rewarding part is when the leader of the clinic or nonprofit calls me, and they tell me a patient is using this resource, they’re really able to understand their options, and we’re moving forward with screening or whatever. I think that’s the most important.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
Education and teaching someone is not a one-size-fits-all thing. You really have to understand the community’s needs, what they already know, and what barriers they might be facing. I learned that you really have to get to know the person that you’re teaching or you’re working with. As a person who’s going into medicine, I feel that’s really important, especially with patient education, making sure people understand their options and how to make decisions about their health.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
It gives you a chance to connect with people and learn from their unique perspectives. It really gives you a chance to contribute to something you care about. It’s rewarding to have an impact and make a difference in people’s lives.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
Do a lot of reflection. Reflect on what you’re passionate about, what your values are, and what your unique skills are. Think about how to help your community and what causes you care about, and start locally by seeing which organizations need support and how you can fit in and help with that cause.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
Everybody has their own unique skill set, and there’s always a way to contribute. With my graphic design skills, I’d say I really try to maximize how much I can help, and that’s a good lesson for people. You might not think a skill could help somebody, but if you really become creative and think of how that could make a difference in someone’s life, then that could really be the start of a greater initiative.
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Maanya Pandey. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Growing up, Maanya Pandey would hear her mother’s stories about how inaccessible and expensive period products were in her native India. But when Maanya discovered that women in America were facing significant obstacles to finding adequate period products, she knew she could take action to make a change.
After doing significant research, Maanya learned that from prisons to her local community, women were struggling to find period products. This was especially true in Maanya’s area of Iowa, where few organizations addressed period poverty. As a high school sophomore, Maanya decided to start her own organization to help women feel clean and maintain dignity during their periods. In May 2020, she founded Love for Red, an organization working to end period poverty through service, advocacy, and awareness.
With a focus on schools, Maanya has volunteered thousands of hours leading a student‑run effort that has donated about 362,000 menstrual products to 207 organizations, including 170 schools in 78 districts. The organization works to move products into school bathrooms, create “period packs,” and establish student ambassador teams that ensure their classmates’ supplies are stocked without asking an adult or going home. With a strong focus on partnering with shelters, clinics, and refugee groups, Maanya has served as a face of the mission, representing the group to support bills that would fund free products in school restrooms.
Maanya just graduated from the University of Iowa and is planning on attending medical school. She hopes to incorporate Love for Red into her medical career, addressing women’s health while advocating for health equity. By dedicating her volunteer work to a cause that’s close to her heart, Maanya has already forged a path that will lead to her future as a physician. Her dedication to the cause shows just how much volunteerism can change the future and, in this powerful example, inform one’s professional career.
LOVE FOR RED FOUNDER MAANYA PANDEY (RIGHT) PRESENTS ‘LET’S TALK PERIOD POVERTY’ TO CIVIC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY STUDENTS WITH REP. DAVID YOUNG. /COURTESY MAANYA PANDEY
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
When I was growing up, women in my life would tell me about their experiences with menstruation when they were young, and that was so different from my experience. My mom grew up in India, and she wasn’t devoid of resources. But at the time, period products like the ones that we know today weren’t on the market. And if they were, they were so expensive and inaccessible. She would tell me about the negative experiences that she had with menstruation, and that was so different from what I experienced. When I got my first period, I was so excited to be a woman. In my sophomore year of high school, I saw an Instagram post about women in prisons and the struggles that they go through because they can’t access period products. They were using things like bed sheets and mattresses as period products and subjecting themselves to assault by prison staff to get period products. That’s where I really saw that this issue was in the U.S. and not just another country.
What inspires you to volunteer?
So many people are suffering in silence. I think that truly was my motivation. It felt so fulfilling to be able to address something that wasn’t being talked about in general. That’s why I continue what we’re doing, because when we started, we didn’t think that there would be much of a need. Once we got to schools, it completely skyrocketed, and we now support over 200 schools in Iowa. Being able to uncover need and directly help those in need is honestly so fulfilling, and that’s why I continue.
Tell us about your volunteer role with Love for Red.
My title is Founder and President, and so it’s my mom and me who do almost everything for the organization. We have a board of advisors and other things, but my role is overseeing the organization. I help with gathering the donations, going to schools, and dropping them off. We plan period packing events. For the past four years, I was at the University of Iowa for my undergrad, and so I ran our Iowa City team. We have our newsletter, our social media posts, events, and fundraisers. I run all of our meetings, and we actually have a student ambassador program that creates a leadership opportunity for students to take care of their school’s menstrual product needs.
What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?
One of our really big strategies is advocacy. It’s something that we started in 2023, when we went to the Iowa State Legislature to advocate for policy change for free menstrual products. Our legislative goals for the past few years have been getting free period products for students in Iowa and making them free in all Iowa schools. I would say that one of our goals is to be able to get something passed. We got really, really close. It’s something where we’ve gained so much traction and progress in the past few years, specifically for students. That’s something that I really want us to be able to get passed.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
We send a feedback form out towards the end of the year to see if these products are helping people and making a difference. That’s when it’s so eye-opening to see staff and students talk about their experience with having these products accessible to them. They’re talking about how, otherwise, they were spending their own money for these products or missing school.
Students are so grateful to have these products accessible to them. It just feels like we’re truly actually making a difference for Iowans.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
One of the biggest things is just how much I’ve changed as a person over the past six years because of Love for Red. A lot of people are shocked when they hear me say that I’m like an introvert. I’m scared to talk to people on the phone. But with Love for Red, it’s truly changed me as a person. It’s changed my confidence, my skills, and my outlook on the things that I want to do. I’m applying for medical school right now.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
We all see issues that happen in our world, and we all have the desire for them to be solved. But they’re not going to be solved unless we do something about it. I know it can be really scary for people to take that initiative. When we started, we had no idea that it would grow this much. But we started because I wanted to do something about this, and then we uncovered more of the need that we saw in Iowa. Because of that, we were able to create such an impact. It’s really important to take that first step in addressing things that you want to see solved because one person can truly make a difference.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
Research organizations that do exist for the issues you do want to solve. Some organizations always need help, and just email them, reach out to them, or look on their website. There are so many places that need help, and we just have to reach out and ask what it is. If you have a cause that you want to help, there are so many more people out there that want to do the same. If you start it, other people will join you as well.
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Ava Zhang. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Ava Zhang used to cut her dolls’ hair as a child. Over a decade later, she’s leading an organization that helps those who are struggling to find confidence and strength, through haircuts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, salons and barbershops were closed for safety regulations. Ava had already developed a hobby of cutting hair for family and friends and found plenty of people eager for a fresh haircut while everything was closed. But she also wanted to take her skills and combine them with her passion for helping others through volunteerism. She started giving haircuts in the parking lot of her local grocery store for strangers, and discovered that the relationship formed with a client in her chair was one of tremendous confidence. But when Ava reached out to shelters and asked if she could provide haircuts to their clients, she was informed that she needed a cosmetology license to cut hair.
Instead of feeling defeated, Ava went on to enroll in cosmetology school. She trained for as many as 1,500 hours and passed two state board exams to get her cosmetology license. Now, she spearheads Cuts for a Cause, a youth-led nonprofit providing free, professional hair-cutting and styling services to marginalized communities. Ava is responsible for coordinating with shelter partners, recruiting and managing volunteers, planning service events, and providing the haircuts. But she has also expanded the organization’s scope, hosting self-care health education workshops for over 800 individuals. By providing personal care and beauty services for underserved communities, Ava is giving each client the respect and dignity they deserve.
Now a rising high school senior, Ava is looking toward the future. When she heads to college, she would like to expand the organization beyond her own involvement. While she has a supportive team of volunteers, she’s still the only one providing haircuts and is hoping to find another young person with the proper qualifications to cut hair. Ava may be the youngest licensed barber in Virginia, but she’s also a volunteer powerhouse. She dedicates 45 hours per month to her work with Cuts for a Cause and has no intention of slowing down. With every snip of her scissors, Ava is giving her time to build someone’s confidence. Her willingness to combine her talents with a passion for helping others is an incredible example of the power of volunteerism.
AVA ZHANG (SECOND FROM RIGHT) STANDS WITH FELLOW VOLUNTEERS AT A CUTS FOR A CAUSE BAKE SALE FUNDRAISING OUTSIDE HER LOCAL GROCERY STORE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CUTS FOR A CAUSE. /COURTESY AVA ZHANG
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
Haircutting has always been one of my favorite hobbies. When I was a little kid, I would cut the hair on my dolls, and I began cutting hair for my family and neighbors. During COVID, a lot of salons were closed, so I wanted to practice my haircutting skills more. I went to Giant, the grocery store, and provided haircuts for people. One man came up to me, and when he sat down in the chair and I gave him his haircut, we talked about his life. He didn’t just thank me for the haircut, but he thanked me for the time that I took to really listen to him.
That’s when I noticed how much a haircut can really mean. It’s not just the haircut that improves someone’s confidence, but the time it takes to build that trust and relationship in the chair. That made me want to start cutting hair for people who don’t have that access and could really benefit from being listened to. I began reaching out to local shelters in Northern Virginia, and now we have around five partnerships.
Tell us about your volunteer role with Cuts for a Cause.
I have a team with a Fundraising Director, an Outreach Director, and a Secretary, and I’ll assign them certain tasks, whether it’s reaching out to more shelters or reaching out to restaurants or other places we can partner with for fundraisers. I also coordinate with student volunteers who can help out at the haircutting events. I do the designing for Instagram posts, but I generally oversee what my team does.
What inspires you to volunteer?
Volunteering to me is such an amazing thing because I’m not just doing what I love, but I’m also helping the community and restoring dignity and confidence to these people who cannot access services like health education and grooming.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
The most rewarding part is that haircuts allowed me to sit down with someone and hear about their lives and their experiences. Some people are excited to tell me what haircut they want, or just want someone to listen to them. I love working with children too because they’re always very excited and talkative, and seeing someone look at them afterward, smile, and see that confidence is really rewarding. It’s really more than just changing someone’s appearance.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
Helping someone starts with listening to them instead of just assuming what they need. Every person who sits in my chair has different experiences and ways of communicating, and I’ve definitely learned how to adapt. Whether that means communicating with someone who doesn’t speak much English or working with a nervous child, I’ve learned a lot about leadership because running an organization means communicating with shelters, coordinating with volunteers, and figuring out what to do if things don’t go as planned.
AVA ZHANG WEARS A BLACK APRON AS SHE PROVIDES A FREE HAIRCUT AT THE FAUQUIER FAMILY SHELTER THROUGH CUTS FOR A CAUSE. /COURTESY AVA ZHANG ● [Good Shep]: AVA ZHANG (LEFT) PRESENTS AT THE PODIUM DURING A SELF-CARE WORKSHOP FOR RESIDENTS AT GOOD SHEPHERD HOUSING. /COURTESY AVA ZHANG
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
Getting involved with something you genuinely care about makes volunteering feel much less like an obligation or a job, and more like being who you are. I loved cosmetology before starting Cuts for a Cause, but volunteering showed me that a personal interest could also meet a need in a community and serve other people. You don’t need to start a nonprofit or have a service-oriented skill to make an impact. When people find what they care about and what their community needs, service becomes much more personal and sustainable.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
Find something you love and start with something you know how to do. Don’t wait until you feel completely prepared, because when you’re a young person and you have a passion, you really need to get out there. You can’t keep waiting. When I started, I didn’t have a large organization or hundreds of volunteers. I just had a skill that I knew could help someone. To this day, it’s still just me doing the haircutting.
Check out organizations in your community and ask what they actually need. Be willing to start small, because your first effort doesn’t have to impact a bunch of people to really make an impact. One meaningful interaction can show where you can go next, and as you gain more experience, listen to people you serve and let what you learn from them shape how you continue helping.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
Doing what you love and helping other people can make such a bigger impact than you think. My organization isn’t expanded throughout the country or the world, but these one-on-one interactions with the people are much deeper than giving a simple haircut, because you’re building trust and community. I want people to learn that you don’t have to be a huge organization to feel like you did something.
