Day of Action: An Intern's Perspective
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United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County

Day of Action: An Intern's Perspective

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On June 8, 2014 over 550 interns from 18 local companies volunteered as a part of United Way's annual Intern Day of Action. Read one volunteer's story:

United Way of Greater Milwaukee’s Intern Day of Action is special because it provides college interns in Greater Milwaukee the opportunity to take time out of their day to participate in a worthy cause they are genuinely interested in. Interns are allowed to work for either a half or full day, allowing for more flexibility and more volunteers.

I traveled to Vision Forward Association, an organization that educates and cares for people affected by vision loss and blindness. Melinda Lanham, Volunteer & Membership Coordinator at Vision Forward, gave us a tour of the organization and told us about the services they provide. We were shown how both adults and children at the association learn how to read braille, write, and cope with vision loss.  

The experience really reminded us how important organizations like Vision Forward Association are, because they serve the needs of others dealing with hardships we rarely ever think about. After the tour we were assigned tasks to complete around the facility, such as cleaning out kitchens, repainting railings and putting up fences.

As I moved from group to group taking pictures of the volunteers, I witnessed another reason United Way’s Intern Day of Action is so special. There was an overwhelming sense of community among the interns. The group’s friendly disposition made for a very fun and approachable environment. I found myself talking with interns and staff from not only other companies but parts of the country, all of whom I may have otherwise never met. The people I met were genuine, kindhearted and really cared about the work we were doing.

I left with a very changed perspective on how much of a difference one could make in just one afternoon and a new respect for individuals that live with a disability. I can only hope to be a part of something this special next year and will do my absolute best to convince my fellow interns, even a half day of volunteering can make all the difference, both to oneself and to others.

- Cole Stenzel, Communications Intern at Baird