MATILDE DAVIS | April 29th, 2019

We had an absolute blast celebrating our volunteers with social events, giveaways, and online spotlights for National Volunteer Week 2019.

It is 7:30pm on a Thursday, and I am having the best time that I ever had at a post-work event. I just beat the self-proclaimed AVLF king of bowling, Michael Lucas, at his own game. That’s right, I took his crown! Ask anyone who was there. I got the spare that ended the game in my favor.

But even better than becoming the AVLF Queen of Bowling was the chance to spend quality time with our amazing volunteers.

We got the chance to meet face to face with volunteers that we previously only knew through e-mails.

On April 4^th, AVLF staff and volunteers got together for a night of celebration at BowlMor Atlanta. It was great to get away from our desk, leave the legal issues behind, and just interact on a more personal level. We learned about each other’s bowling techniques like how a cool pose at the end of your roll could definitely make you a better bowler, or how a slight spin on the ball could get you a strike. We got the chance to meet face to face with volunteers that we previously only knew through e-mails. We caught up with volunteers who we had not seen in years, and we spoke about everything: Game of Thrones, crazy family members, and why we do this work. This was our first event to kick off National Volunteer Week.

National Volunteer Week (April 7^th– April 13^th) is a way for AVLF to show appreciation to our outstanding volunteers and the impact that they make in the Atlanta community. It’s an opportunity to highlight people like Shirlise Rivera who volunteers without expecting anything in return. She volunteers just because she enjoys it. Or people like Rohan Rupani who understands that a lawyer volunteering their time can help balance the legal system in the favor of clients who are entitled to quality legal representation regardless of how much they make. I am encouraged by people like Ann Salo who spends retirement constantly volunteering at the Probate information Center.

National Volunteer Week (April 7^th– April 13^th) is a way for AVLF to show appreciation to our outstanding volunteers and the impact that they make in the Atlanta community.

All of the volunteers that we highlighted this month and the ones that we did not get a chance to highlight are an inspiration. Your commitment to service is truly heartwarming which is why we could not limit our celebration of you to just a week. We had to celebrate all month long.

Throughout the rest of April, we hosted two additional events at Tin Lizzy’s and All Fired Up where we ate delicious food and relaxed with wine while painting pottery. Various AVLF swag was distributed to current and potential volunteers. There were also volunteer caravans led by AVLF staff members who packed their cars full of branded gear to deliver to our amazing firm sponsors as a thank-you.

Every moment of this month was filled with the spirit of joy because we got the chance to show our volunteers how much we value them. This celebration does not stop at the end of April. We plan on showing you our appreciation throughout the year. Stay connected to AVLF’s newsletter to get updates on future volunteer events, and look out for the Volunteer of the Month section as we continue to highlight outstanding volunteers.

Thank you to all of our volunteers for your constant support, your spirit of service, and your selfless giving. Happy National Volunteer Month!

Matilde Davis

Volunteer Engagement Manager, Safe and Stable Homes Project

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Matilde Davis is the Volunteer Engagement Manager for AVLF’s Safe and Stable Homes Project.

Originally from Gary, Indiana, Matilde moved to Atlanta to attend Emory University. She received her B.A. in African American Studies and Women Studies in 2009. After graduation, Matilde worked for five years with an asset management company that sells and maintains the integrity of government-owned properties. She is passionate about helping her community while working for a great organization. In her free time, Matilde likes to kickbox, read, and bake healthy treats.