“I’M LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO USE MY PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS TO CONNECT WITH MY COMMUNITY AND HELP OUT.”

It Started With One

I came to shoot a photo of Anne, who was part of Volunteer Kalamazoo, for a story the newspaper was doing about her. During that photo shoot she asked me if I’d be interested in shooting some things for the organization. Since there was no money involved, it was a no-pressure gig. Plus, I like to photograph people, so it was an easy “yes” for me.

Then their Star Awards came up, which is one of their bigger events. They asked me to shoot that, and again, it was an easy “yes.”

Still Going Strong

And the yesses haven’t stopped. I’m going on seven years photographing forVolunteer Kalamazoo, and now I’m averaging about four events a year. But I’ll shoot pretty much anything they ask me to.

Those seven years have added up to hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars of free labor and images. But it’s also created thousands of opportunities for Volunteer Kalamazoo to share its story and the story of its volunteers, helping garner more donations and even more volunteers.

I don’t do it to give back. I don’t believe in that, because, to me, that implies that you took something. I do it because I believe in citizenship, in helping your neighbors, your family, whoever is in need. It’s just something that you do, without the expectation of being owed anything in return.

My name is Sam, and now I help change the story.

With the generous help of Volunteer Kalamazoo, Sam was able to change the story.

Health

We are making sure people have access to physical and mental health care, and that babies are born healthy. We work with health care providers to keep costs low and make sure services are available for those with little or no health insurance.

Income

We’re helping families become – and stay – self-sufficient by investing in programs that help them stay in their homes, through rental assistance, budgeting and financial counseling. We also help people become financially stable by supporting job training and retention programs, and through the Tax Counseling Initiative and the Emergency Food and Shelter program.