By Adaire Fit Fish reporters | Helping people is something that Adaire parent volunteers enjoy, several parents said in recent interviews with Fit Fish reporters.
“It’s a good way to meet new people who are different from you, and to find out what you like,” said Allie Reilly, parent volunteer.
She also said it’s good for her mental health to spend time volunteering.
Research has shown that volunteering can support the mental and physical health of the volunteer by reducing stress and anxiety and helping to combat depression, according to the Mayo Clinic, a research hospital. In addition to giving time to people in need, volunteering can help you make new friends, get out of a rut, and give you something to do, according to KidsHealth.org, a website with health information.
“Volunteering can help build stronger social networks in a way that probably differs from simply hanging out with friends,” said Dr. Eric Kim, whose research shows that volunteering can offer people a sense of purpose, according to an article on the American Heart Association’s website. Also, volunteering can help you have an easier time talking to people, according to KidsHealth.org.
Ms. Anjeza Beca, parent of sixth-grader Daniel Beca and founder of Gaia Touch Home Care agency, said volunteering can give you amazing opportunities. She said she likes helping out at school in the busiest times such as after winter break. A former teacher, she said she loves to help teachers.
“Volunteering for me means sharing,” she said. Ms. Stephanie Iselin, parent of sixth-grader Columbus Iselin said she is part of the mentorship program at Urban Outfitters where she works as creative director. She said she enjoys meeting with the women she mentors because she’s helping them advance in their careers or get better in their jobs. As a kid, she said, she participated in volunteering through bake sales and fundraisers. Children should volunteer because it is fulfilling, she said.
Ms. Stephanie said that volunteering at a young age helps you become a well-rounded person, and that giving back to your community feels good.
Mrs. Casey Beck, parent of sixth-grader Joey Beck and a freelance writer and event planner, said, “Volunteering can be fun as much as it is meaningful.”
Mrs. Beck also said, by volunteering at Adaire, she helps the teachers and in turn, it helps her kids.
Mrs. Allie Reilly, parent of sixth-grader Franklin Reilly and assistant librarian for the Free Library of Philadelphia, said volunteering as a kid helped her mental health by making her feel fulfilled and even started to foster her love for community building.
Mrs. Reilly volunteers at the Adaire library and is the school advisory council facilitator. Mrs. Reilly also said that every school should have a library, and every child should have the chance to explore ideas.
According to Mrs. Reilly, kids who want to volunteer should go for it. “Start small but think big,” she said.
Ms. Leigh Calarco, parent of sixth-grader Skylar Calarco, is a local Realtor who volunteers for various causes like Friends of Adaire, a parent and teacher organization that helps raise funds for Adaire Elementary School.
“It is good to give to people in need,” she said, adding she enjoys helping the school in any way possible to enrich her kids’ education.
Illustration by Joplin, 6th grade, Adaire, 2025-2026
