Volunteering at Avivo: Maci’s Story

Maci’s commitment to volunteering began early. She grew up in a small town in central Wisconsin, and was involved in community service through local organizations like the Veterans Home and school-based projects. One of her first experiences came in fourth grade, when she and a group of friends built a “buddy bench” on their school playground – a way to help classmates feel included.

“It seemed small at the time,” Maci says, “but it showed me how you can respond to a need in your community.”

That early exposure shaped her interests. When she moved to Minneapolis to attend North Central University, she chose to study social work, graduating this past December. Her goal was to find a way to turn her interest in helping others into a career.

Maci first connected with Avivo through Community Emergency Service, a food shelf, and volunteered first with Avivo at Avivo’s Night of Champions event. The experience introduced her to the organization’s mission and the people behind it. Listening to a participant speaker and meeting staff gave her a clearer sense of the impact Avivo has in the community.

“It helped me understand not just what Avivo does, but why it matters,” she said.

“It helped me understand not just what Avivo does, but why it matters.”

She later joined Avivo as a social work intern, working with Avivo’s Adopt-a-Family program. In that role, she helped organize holiday gifts for families in Avivo’s programs and met families as they picked them up. The direct interaction stood out to her.

“Hearing how much it meant to families, and how much their kids looked forward to it, made the work feel very real,” she said.

After finishing her internship, Maci chose to stay involved by volunteering at Avivo Village. There, she helped organize supplies and support daily operations, while also building relationships with staff and guests.

“Volunteering regularly gave me consistency,” she said. “I got to know people, and I could see how even small tasks, like preparing a room or stocking supplies, made a difference.”

“Volunteering regularly gave me consistency … I got to know people, and I could see how even small tasks, like preparing a room or stocking supplies, made a difference.”

Those experiences, along with encouragement from a supervisor, led her to apply for a full-time role. She joined Avivo staff earlier this year.

Now, Maci says the people and the culture are what keep her there.

“Everyone is welcoming, and it’s clear that people care about the work and the individuals they serve,” she said.

She encourages others to consider volunteering as a way to get involved.

“It’s a good way to learn about the work and see where you might fit,” she said. “You can make an impact, even in small ways, and it can grow into something more.”