Why I volunteer with WBI

Reflecting on my childhood as a parent is when I fully grasped what it meant to come from a low-income family and how much the support of our community shaped my future as well as my sister’s. Our parents worked as a janitor and a housekeeper in a hotel, and their income was insufficient to sustain our family of four. At the time, I was unaware of the insecure financial situation we were in, and it took me years to realize that any unexpected expense would have been devastating.

Low-income housing and education from Renton Technical College enabled my parents to get jobs that provided us with stability and put my family on the path to long-term permanent housing. My sister and I were fortunate to obtain college degrees and pursue successful professional careers, all thanks to our hardworking parents and the support of our community. I am grateful my childhood experience is a stark contrast to that of my own children, who have never had to worry about housing or financial insecurity. Regrettably, the statistics demonstrate that we are not the norm - children from low-income families face numerous obstacles, and they do not have access to pursue an education which would allow them to escape the cycle of poverty.

That is why I chose to volunteer with Way Back Inn over a decade ago. They offer assistance to low-income families with young children who require a helping hand. I see my younger self in the children who are part of our transitional housing program, and I am grateful to be able to pay it forward by giving my time and efforts to the organization. I genuinely believe many of the children who have benefited from Way Back Inn's services will one day become successful adults and contribute to their communities in meaningful ways.