Volunteer Spotlight - 
Sonia Cruz

Volunteering is an integral part of her life and always has been.  Sonia Cruz began her lifelong dedication to helping others while only in elementary school with the help from her parents and sisters.  Continuing to give of her time throughout college and into adulthood, becoming a parent opened up a whole new area of volunteering.  She became extremely involved in volunteering through her local school system in Egg Harbor Township, serving on parent clubs, stakeholder strategic planning groups, booster clubs and attending Board of Education Meetings which continue to this day.  

​

“Volunteering builds relationships, builds communication skills, and is rewarding. My children were raised to also value to volunteering as a way to give back,” Sonia shared.  “Volunteering requires work/life balance and requires commitment and dedication to the goals of the organization or the individuals you serve. Volunteering can often be seen as a thankless job so holding that value for yourself is important.  Volunteering allowed me to grow in both my personal life and my professional life. When you work with individuals there is an opportunity to learn from each other. I've been lucky to work with individuals from all different cultures, stages of life and professions.” As a bilingual advocate, Sonia has the benefit of speaking Spanish to those family members who are more comfortable in their primary language.  

​

Sonia serves as both a volunteer and an employee for CASA for Children of Atlantic, Cape May, and Camden Counties.  This dual role provides insight into the process and allows her to understand why the commitment to the CASA child is so important as they and their families (both biological and resource) navigate the Child Welfare System.  Learning to take each visit as a stepping stone to building a relationship is crucial, as advocating for a child means understanding their feelings, fears, and needs. 

​

Upon being asked about her favorite part of volunteering for CASA, she joyfully replied “The kids!”  Learning about them and seeing them each month, a relationship develops where the child is looking forward to you coming back again.  The 11 year old she currently advocates for is teaching her how to play the game of chess. “It’s something he loves to do. He’s my teacher and he’s doing a great job!”  She appreciates his patience while she learns the moves and rules of the game during their monthly meetings.   

​

People often feel overwhelmed at the prospect of adding something new like volunteering into their schedule, but for Sonia she says it’s second nature. It’s something she loves to do. “I love to give but I also love what I get back from my experiences volunteering. I can tell you that 90% of my friends either volunteered with me or for me….I think it builds relationships in communities. And I balance it out. I balance my volunteering, my work, and my own family.”   

 

Regarding the necessary characteristics of being a successful volunteer advocate Sonia had this to say: “You have to be empathetic. You have to be a good listener. You have to be patient. And lastly you must be respectful. You’re coming across different people at difficult times in their lives, you are coming into their home, you are asking of their time. You have to be mindful of what your role is.”  When asked what she would tell someone thinking about volunteering, she exclaimed, “Just do it!  If you have a friend who may be interested, bring them along too!”