AGENCY'S MISSION DREW ON MATNEY'S SENSE OF CIVIC DUTY

FROM: CITY PEOPLE – A SUPPLEMENT TO THE GREENVILLE (SC) NEWS [LINK]
PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2006

By Addy Matney
GUEST COLUMNIST

Because I wanted to be involved with an organization dedicated to helping children, my initial exposure to Pendleton Place came in 2003 when I chose it as the agency where I would complete my Junior League of Greenville volunteer service.

On my first day, I found myself studying the children and thinking how they look like every other child I see whether at church, in the mall, or at the park.

We hear about problems in our community but until we stare them in the face they are easy to put in the back of our minds. Knowing that these children had to be at Pendleton Place because they didn't have anywhere else to go made me sad until I started thinking about what could happen if it didn't exist.

Pendleton Place residents come into our care for a variety of reasons. Some stay with us while their families work to improve the home environment, others are placed until a foster family can be identified, and another group lives with us in a long-term capacity.

Working with Pendleton Place residents is a rewarding experience. Each time I walk through the door I am greeted by the outstretched arms of many kids in need of a hug. The kids I met during weeks past yell my name as I walk through the door while others I never met are equally as excited to see me.

The best thing about volunteering at Pendleton Place is that no two days are the same. From helping a teenage girl with a math assignment to reading a story with a toddler to taking a group outside to play, there is never a lack of activity. The children are appreciative of every little thing we do together, and I leave each week having received as much love as I have given.

During my first few months of volunteering, I felt I wanted to give more. I approached the Development Director about sitting in on a board meeting and explained that I wanted to be more involved.

By June of 2004 I was a member of the board which provided the perfect balance to my volunteer work. I can work with our children on a weekly basis as a volunteer and help Pendleton Place raise money, expand offerings for residents and serve as a liaison between the board and the day-to-day activities of the children.

Some days are harder than others. One day a little boy sat on my lap crying the entire time I was there because he couldn't understand why he and his sister couldn't go home. Another day I spent with a teenager who opened up to me about the abuse she has faced in her life. There is always something that lets me know I need to be there. After coming home and gaining perspective, it's those days that make me happiest to be associated with a facility that gives these children a place to call home.