They say it takes a village to raise a child. That rings true at ChildServe, too.

About 650 volunteers gave more than 10,000 hours of their time to the kids at ChildServe over the past year.

One group of women in particular has made an outstanding contribution to the kids at ChildServe this Christmas. For the past few years, Occupational Therapy Assistant Nancy Lyng and six of her friends have rallied together to purchase gifts for kids at ChildServe.

Nancy, Erika Horstmann, Michele Craven, Jean Cooper, Lori Kiewel, Brenda Mackey and Crystal Filippelli are part of a women’s small group from Lutheran Church of Hope called PEWS (Pretty Exciting Women’s Stuff).

“We have always had a passion for helping other women and children in need,” says Lyng. “When we heard that ChildServe needed volunteers to help shop for the children, we decided this would be another way for us to serve others.”

Thanks to these women, 36 kids will receive not only receive winter clothes and other things on their wishlists, but also the gift of having joy in their soul, and smiles on their faces.

“It is what our group has always been about from the very beginning,” says Lyng. “Giving of ourselves to help others and bring them joy and happiness.”

Year-round, volunteers offer a multitude of “little extras” for the kids. There are dozens of ways to help; here are some examples of things our volunteers do regularly, and things you can do too:

• Reading to kids
• Going on walks with kids
• Taking kids on outings
• Rocking small children
• Making activity trays
• Swimming with kids
• Helping in the childcare centers
• Pet therapy
• PALS Committee (birthday and party planning)
• Sewing pillowcases and bed sheets
• Making cards for kids
• Making quilts and blankets for kids
• Shopping for kids
• Donating items needed for services
• Playing music for kids
• Cleaning and sanitizing toys
• Donating to the Wishing Well

Kaylene Steele, Volunteer Service Coordinator, commends the outstanding support ChildServe receives form its volunteers.

“Our volunteers do so much for us and the kids, it’s just incredible,” she says. “They’re always going above and beyond, and it is such a gift.”

If you or someone you know would like to find out more about volunteering at ChildServe, please contact Kaylene at 331-8139.