By Joe Barnett
Former Youth from Redlands First United Methodist Church
I choose to donate to Sierra Service Project because of the lasting impact SSP had on my development as a youth. I hope that my monthly gifts can give someone the opportunity to experience the same joy I did, while also gaining confidence in their abilities and learning there are multiple ways to serve others.
I attended my first SSP trip in the summer of 2003, with my youth group from Redlands First United Methodist Church. For several years, I had heard of the work done by older youth at the church, and always looked forward to my opportunity to attend SSP. The hands-on skills I learned at SSP served as a foundation for my first jobs in high school and college.
“I view SSP as the launching point for my desire to give back”
Recently, I relocated to Sacramento, California. When the time came to consider ways to get involved in my local community, I was thrilled to discover Sierra Service Project was headquartered here. Since I view SSP as the launching point for my desire to give back, making the decision to donate to this great organization seemed like the logical next step.
In addition to being a monthly donor, I have enjoyed participating in volunteer days in Rancho Cordova and North Sacramento. It has been extremely rewarding to see the work SSP does for the youth and communities it serves, and to know that my donation is helping extend these valuable opportunities to others.
Editor’s Note: Joe is currently a Manager for Blue Diamond Growers’ Operations Excellence Group, supporting their Global Manufacturing Operations. This article was featured in SSP’s Annual Newsletter for 2016. Thanks to committed monthly donors like Joe, we were able to impact 2,269 volunteers, 76 homeowners, and 19 nonprofit partners in 2016.