Welcome back! Thank you so much for the love you poured out to Kayla and Bella Vita in our first blog! We were blown away by the love and supportive feedback we got from it. For our second blog, we knew exactly who we wanted to introduce to you next! She is such a sweetheart and a huge blessing to us! She helps so many of our clients by watching their kids, driving them places, and volunteering anywhere she can. We would like to introduce you to Shelly Zeiters! Shelly came to Bella Vita three years ago as emotional support for one of her friends, who was a new client of ours. Soon both Shelly and her friend began to go into Bella Vita every day they were open and participated in everything that we have to offer. After a while, Shelly felt called to volunteer at Bella Vita! She did anything that needed to be done around the facility! Always willing to help any of our clients, no matter the situation.
Shelly has been driving some of our clients to their job interviews, appointments, food banks, and around town to run errands. Along with offering to drive our clients, Shelly is also one of the leaders of our cooking class and helps to provide food when needed. She has also started a free home daycare in her home so she could take care of our client’s kids while they went to work or to an appointment. This is a huge blessing to our clients! If all of that was not enough, if a client needs a place to stay, Shelly opens her home to them and their kid(s)! How amazing is this woman?
We asked Shelly what she loves most about Bella Vita, and she said, “They’re always there if you need something and are always willing to help out. My favorite part is watching the kids grow up and get big!” When we asked her what influenced her to become a volunteer, she said that she loves helping in any way she can and has always been someone who wants to help first! Another reason why Shelly decided to volunteer is that she wishes that there was a Bella Vita around when she had her son. Shelly knows what our clients are going through which helps her connect to them more. Shelly has a beautiful heart for people and for Bella Vita! Shelly told us that she is always telling people about Belle Vita! “I tell people about Bella Vita all day, EVERY DAY!!! And then I offer to go in with them. They don’t have to go in alone because they got me!”
Shelly laughed when we asked her what she has gotten out of volunteering at Bella Vita. She told us that everything she has gotten out of volunteering has been good stuff! Shelly said that she would encourage anyone to come, volunteer, because you won’t regret it! Anyone can come in and help because we always need more hands. We loved this line she said: “You help them, they help you!” Shelly told us story after story of her times at Bella Vita helping out clients driving them to work or watching their children and in return Shelly was given the gift of seeing them succeed and/or watching their babies grow! Shelly said that there’s never a day that she regrets being part of Bella Vita.
We love having Shelly on our team of volunteers! She goes above and beyond the call and is always willing to help when we need her. These past three years have been incredible watching Shelly come out of her shy, quiet shell and watch her grow in the confident woman she is today! We love her, and we hope you have grown to love her as well!