Riley Schelp - Volunteer Of The Year

riley

CFNA Volunteer of the Year

Editor’s Note: Only two months into 2018, CFNA has selected its Volunteer of the Year. Here, Riley Schelp, an outstanding young lady, shares with us her CFNA experience.

My name is Riley Schelp, and I am a senior at Lutheran High School South. I became involved with CFNA three years ago when I helped my dad and his Bible study group paint in the basement at the Peace Center. Soon after that, I became more involved. My family decided to participate in the adopt-a-family program, and we began visiting a Nepali family every week. We got very close to them, and this was an amazing experience. Since then, I have enjoyed tutoring at the Peace Center, along with participating in many other CFNA programs.

I serve as the president of the National Honor Society at Lutheran South. In this position, I was responsible for choosing an organization the Honor Society might serve, and I immediately suggested CFNA. We did many service projects with them over the past two years, such as buying Christmas presents for families, working at the annual Christmas Party, hosting a Valentine's Day party, hosting an Easter party, and hosting a Trunk-or-Treat at Lutheran South for the New American kids. We were also able to put together a “Girls Day” at the Peace Center for the past two years. Many girls from South came to help, and we had a great time! Being on the swim team, I also helped organize a four-week swim lesson program for the CFNA kids to enable them to learn basic water safety skills and to become more comfortable in the water.

riley and mace

What I love about CFNA is the joy that fills the entire community. All of the children are smiling and so thankful all of the time. Their positivity is contagious. I also love how open everyone has been to ideas and service projects. Anytime I come to Carol Buckman with an idea, no matter how crazy, she helps me make it happen! I am going to miss seeing the kids when I go to college next year; however, I plan on coming back to the Peace Center as much as possible.

Next year, I will be running track and attending the University of Alabama. I plan to study International Relations and Spanish. After college, when I return home, I would love to continue working with CFNA. I am so thankful for the ways God has worked in each of the different service projects. Along this journey, He has taught me so much. I am overwhelmed with the number of blessings God has shown me through working with CFNA.

Riley Schelp Concordia Lutheran Church, Kirkwood, MO