Not "just a volunteer" -- meet Mary Apone

It's Day 3 of National Volunteer Week, or as we might start calling it, "Not Just a Volunteer" Week! (Click the links to meet two other terrific "not just a volunteers," Greg Jindra and Gary Lookabaugh.) Today we'd like you to meet one of our youngest volunteers, Mary Apone.

Mary is a student at Greenon High School and has volunteered at the STARS Afterschool Program at Westside Christian Community for the past three years. Every week Mary shows up to be a friend to city elementary school kids, help them with their reading, and show them the love of Jesus. The kids love Mary and they know that she loves them!

Mary says, if you're thinking about volunteering with kids at SCYM, "Go for it! Once you get to know all of the kids and volunteers, it's like family." 

What does Mary's experience mean to her? She says, "I've been at Westside Church with Pastor Costy and Beth since I was little, and their commitment to serving our community has been very inspiring to me. I love being in the middle of what God is doing!" 

And we love that God is drawing in young people like Mary to love kids in our city. May God raise up many more Mary's!

Not "just a volunteer" -- meet Gary Lookabaugh

It's Day 2 of National Volunteer Week, and we're pleased to introduce you to some people who inspire and encourage us every day.

Have you ever been driving around Springfield and noticed a home for sale with a Real Estate II sign that says "Gary Lookabaugh" on the top?

Well, we'd like to introduce you to Gary.

Gary has been behind the buying and selling of more homes in Clark County than he can probably count. He is a terrific businessman, but he is also a kind and humble person who seeks to follow Christ in all he does.



Gary served on the SCYM board from 2008-2012. You may not know that Gary grew up on the west side of Springfield, which has led him to have a heart for the kids that SCYM serves. He understands the struggles of growing up in a broken home, and knows how much kids need to find Christian role models and guidance. 

Last year, Gary sensed that God was leading him to become a mentor, and to help find others to mentor, too. Last summer we matched Gary with Aaron, a bright young 7th grader who lives on the west side. Gary and Aaron have struck up a great friendship, meeting once a week. (Gary says he treats his time with Aaron "like an appointment I need to keep.") They talk about setting goals, having positive relationships, and just about life.

Gary says he has learned that mentoring "is a simpler process than I thought. It's just being a listener and being there."

And to anyone thinking about become a mentor, Gary says, "It's a great opportunity for you to grow. It's shown me how to be a better grandfather to my grandkids."

So the next time you see Gary Lookabaugh's name, why not say a prayer for him and Aaron, and remember his example of someone who is not content with just business success, but is seeking to serve wherever God is calling him. We're so thankful for Gary!

Not "just a volunteer"

One of the best parts of working in a nonprofit is that every day we get to work alongside terrific, dedicated, caring, and just plain fun people. They are not just ordinary people; they are volunteers -- or as we like to call them, volunteer leaders and mentors. 

Last year by our best count, 181 people volunteered to serve kids with SCYM! We are not making that up. 181 terrific, dedicated, caring, just plain fun people came together to make a difference for kids in our city. 

So this week being National Volunteer Week and all (you knew it was National Volunteer Week, right? sure you did.) we want to introduce you to a few of these great folks.

Meet Greg Jindra!

Greg is a senior at Cedarville University, studying pre-law, and he hails from Wooster, Ohio. Three years ago while at Cedarville, Greg was sucked in recruited by a friend to help lead a Young Life club for Hayward Middle School students with SCYM. His first year, the group would draw 15 or so students once a week to Southgate Baptist Church, where the club was held. Leaders would hang out with the students, play basketball, talk, and study the Bible together. 

With such a great experience, Greg was sucked in recruited to become the club leader his junior year. That fall, Greg led the team of leaders to regularly visit the area around Hayward after school to pass out flyers for Young Life. About the third week of club, 80 students from the neighborhood showed up one night. Chaos ensued. The calm, quiet club that everyone had enjoyed was nowhere to be found. 

Through this whole process, God used Greg through tremendous change and built a team of leaders that is now more than 30 people deep. Their commitment has grown and the impact on young people has, too. New structures were built and grown, sometimes a challenging process. The club now averages 40 students in grades 6-8. 

Greg says that he continues to volunteer/lead because "I see a need and I love helping to fill it." 

To someone thinking about volunteering to work with kids, Greg says, "Just go do it! Put yourself in a position to find out what the ministry does, be available, and put yourself out there."

We thank God for Greg, for his willingness to serve and lead even when things got challenging!