NVW: Anthony Jacovides

Meet Anthony Jacovides, a youth volunteer for several of HandsOn Inland Empire’s managed projects! Whether it is playing board games with seniors, dancing with people who have disabilities or even knitting, Anthony has touched the lives of many.

When did you first start volunteering with HandsOn Inland Empire? I started volunteering in 2006 as a high school requirement (Damien High School) but started volunteering with HandsOn Inland Empire in 2008/2009.

Why do ♥ volunteering? I feel a satisfaction of making a small difference. Every project I have volunteered for, the organization or project lead person always is so grateful that a person or people have showed up to help that it makes me feel proud to have helped them. I also feel a little embarrassed because it didn't seem like a big effort on my part.

Describe your most memorable volunteer experience with HandsOn Inland Empire. It has to be playing games with senior citizens. They can be very competitive and have great personalities and they also seem to be happy I'm there.

What motivates you to serve? It doesn't take much of my time to volunteer even once a month for a few hours, but it really does make an enormous difference to others. If every high school student had a requirement to volunteer once a year, that would be about 1000 students divided by 365 days = 2-3 students volunteering everyday per high school. That could make a huge difference because certainly a few would continue as I have.

What population/impact area are you most interested in helping and why (ex. Animals, children and youth, seniors, the environment, hunger/homelessness, arts and culture, etc.)? Disabled children and adults and senior citizens because they can not do things like others and it is not by a choice of their own but by circumstances out of their own control. They need the assistance.