|
Volunteering
Opportunities
Testimonials
FAQs about volunteering
|
Wish Granters
I have been a volunteer for Make-A-Wish for the past eleven wonderful years. I found out about Make-A-Wish when I attended an Elk's Auxiliary meeting in Jackson, Missouri, and saw a special program and slide presentation about the Foundation. A Wish Granter is a special messenger of joy. You are part of a team to grant wishes to ensure lasting, joyous wish memories for a Wish Kid and his or her family. Making a dream come true, through a wish, allows the child and the family to create very special memories. I feel very blessed to be a part of this program.
My very first wish was a 5-year old boy, Kenton, in Perry Count, Missouri. I helped send this child and his three brothers and sisters to Disney World. His mother later became a volunteer for Make-A-Wish.
The second wish I did was fun and a memorable. It was for a darling little girl named Emily. She wished for a computer, printer, and programs. All she talked about how much she loved Barney. I decided to do her wish with a special Barney flare. I rented a Barney suit and aksed my daughter, Catheryn, to wear it when we went to Emily's house. I ordered a Barney cake from the bakery in Emily's hometown and off we went to deliver her computer! Barney and I delivered her computer, and we had a party with cake and Barney plates. Emily couldnęt believe her eyes. I'll never forget how excited she was! It is such fun to make memories for such a special child.
I especially remember one very special 10-year-old child who needed a heart transplant and also had Muscular Dystrophy. He asked for a computer, printer, and programs, because he was unable to do normal boy things and stayed at home a lot. It was a Thursday evening and snowing hard but my husband, who also had become a Wish Granter, and I went to deliver this special wish for Kevin. We stopped for pizza on the way, so we could have a fun party for Kevin and his friends. Friday school was called off so his friends came over and had a ball with the computer games. We continued to stay in touch with his family, and we even visited him in St Louis Children's Hospital before his heart transplant. The surgery was a success and he is now married and attending a Christian University. I always remind parents that God only picks special parents to love special children.
These families are so special to me and I hold them in my heart and prayers. I have been a Wish Granter for children who have wished for trips to Disney World where they stay at "Give Kids the World", Disney Cruises, computers, bedroom makeovers, shopping sprees, and a trip to the ocean and San Diego Zoo in California. Each wish holds a special memory. I have kept all the paperwork from my wishes and often go through it to think of all the wonderful memories I helped to create for these "Special Children". I have gotten a lot of satisfaction through all of the wishes granted. I have met many loving families during my time volunteering, and would highly recommend anyone to work for this wonderful organization. It has been a special blessing to me.
Sharon Dreyer
|
|
