Carolyn Spalding, a devoted volunteer, gives back to the Memphis community in many ways but most often volunteers with her dog, Charlie, performing pet therapy for children in the hospital.

When Carolyn and Charlie first moved to Memphis, they immediately started searching for a regular place to continue doing pet therapy—which they had previously done in California. They soon started doing bi-weekly visits to Le Bonheur, but Carolyn wanted to do even more.

“Sarah Petschonek came to speak at AutoZone, where I work, about the importance of volunteering and how Volunteer Odyssey connects volunteers with opportunities. I really connected with her mission and was interested in seeing what VolunteerCompass would have for me.” So Carolyn went to VolunteerCompass and started volunteering at Volunteer Odyssey’s VolunCheers.

Through VolunCheers, Carolyn has gotten connected with American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge and she and Charlie are now their first pet therapy team. She also connected with Make-A-Wish Mid-South and is now one of their Wish Granters.

“Through pet therapy, Charlie and I are able to bring joy to children and their families during some of their hardest days in the hospital. Then, through Make-A-Wish, I am also able to be a part of some of their happiest days as their wishes are brought to life!

When asked if volunteering has enriched her personal life, Carolyn says, “I have met so many people from all walks of life dealing with all sorts of situations that have really helped me to put my life into perspective. While pet therapy can sometimes be heartbreaking, being able to bring a smile to someone’s face and knowing that you made a difference in their life is the most gratifying feeling. I have learned so much about myself and grown so much from the experiences that volunteering has afforded me.”

Carolyn encourages other people to start volunteering and giving back. She explains you can make a huge impact without committing a lot of hours, “When most people think about volunteering, they think of ongoing time commitments and lots of work identifying and committing to a single volunteer organization. Volunteer Odyssey makes it easy to commit to as much or as little time as your schedule allows. Also, you can try out different interests, organizations and types of volunteering without feeling committed to a single organization.”

“The impact that you can make on another human being will make an imprint on your soul. I have been blessed to be able to impact over 1,400 people in the last 3.5 years alone. It doesn’t take a huge commitment on your behalf to make a huge impact on others.”