At only 17 years old, Makaila Maier has already given so much to the families we serve at St. Paul’s Center. She was first introduced to us through a Board Member whose husband serves on the School District’s Board of Education where Makaila participates as a student representative.

At the time, we were in need of all the help we could get as we planned our fourth annual For the Love of Bags & Bling fundraiser. Even though Makaila was already involved in Key Club, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, and National Honor Society, she hopped on board without hesitation and began recruiting a group of volunteers from the community.

From the moment Makaila’s group sat down for our first planning meeting, I was blown away by how committed everyone was to making this year’s event a success. Makaila was eager to help out in any way she could, demonstrating her vast commitment to giving back the community, while taking on a leadership role that clearly comes naturally to her.

As Makaila learned more about our work and what homelessness looks like for families in the Capital Region, she had this to say:

Today, Makaila shares these thoughts with the students she brings from the high school to volunteer, helping to spread awareness and build empathy throughout the Rensselaer County community. Makaila continues to volunteer with St. Paul’s Center and other organizations to do her part to ensure that her community will continue to serve those who live there, so that one day all children can grow up in an environment that supports them.

As Makaila said, many of us are fortunate enough to have never experienced homelessness, but this doesn’t mean we never will. Some of us are only one paycheck away from missing rent and becoming subject to an eviction, some of us will experience tragedy losing our homes to floods or fire, and some of us might find ourselves fleeing an abusive or dangerous situation.

With the start of the New Year, it is the perfect time for us all to learn a thing or two from Makaila. We can resolve to limit our judgements and begin seeing people as people rather than their situation or the choices that may have led them there. After all, if one day it happened to your family, wouldn’t you want there to be someone like Makaila living in your neighborhood?

If you’re ready to get involved and join St. Paul’s Center as a volunteer, visit our Volunteer Page or reach out to Meghan at [email protected] or by giving us a call at 518-434-2910.