Neighbor News
Volunteer Week: Teen Lends a Hand with Gifts and More
During National Volunteer Week, we're spotlighting a few of the local volunteers who support us through the year.
Volunteering means that wrapping presents and packaging dog treats are among the things that 17-year-old Robert Schinske has practiced a lot.
With 40 hours of community service to complete before graduation from San Marin High School next year, Robert has spent more than 20 hours already with Homeward Bound of Marin.
“The idea that I’m helping someone, even though it’s indirectly rather than face-to-face, is something I like,” he says. “My mom has a cousin who has been homeless so I know a bit about what that’s like.”
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Robert is one of dozens of local teens who lend a hand in our programs every year, either by working in our offices and the gardens at New Beginnings Center, or by organizing projects off-site like meal preparation or fundraising to support our residents.
During the winter holidays, Robert eased the gift delivery to dozens of families in Homeward Bound programs by wrapping presents and sorting them for each household.
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He also has packaged and labeled Wagster Treats dog biscuits made in our culinary training kitchen by people building employment skills. All proceeds from Wagster Treats support Homeward Bound’s shelter and training programs.
Though he plays tennis and has an accounting internship with North Marin Water District, Robert says his personal goal is 100 hours of community service. “It’s a nice number, and it can’t hurt for college applications,” he says.
