Morgan

Morgan found ECF while searching for volunteer opportunities while stuck at home in Glen Rock during the quarantine. A junior pre-med student at Rutgers, Morgan had been volunteering in a children’s hospital surgical unit and working with her sorority to help the Children’s Miracle Network. “Children’s health is a cause I really care about,” she says. She first discovered this during coursework in a hospital NICU and it cemented her plans to continue working with kids. Morgan knew she wanted to be in the medical field in high school, though she originally wanted to help dancers, being one herself.

For ECF she packs groceries for families, inventories donated food and toys, makes flyers and does community outreach. In her “spare” time this summer, Morgan also works as a “brand ambassador” for Tito’s Burritos (where her brothers work as well), completed an online physics class, and shadowed a podiatrist at a surgical clinic.

Yasmeen

When 20-year-old Yasmeen learned about ECF, she jumped at the chance to fill her time this summer helping a cause close to her heart (her grandmother died of cancer two years ago) and in line with her major at Ramapo College (Global Communications and Media). Yasmeen has been assisting Inessa with editing marketing and outreach materials, as well as organizing toys and books for the kids.

She aspires to be a teacher and plans to get a Masters in teaching, with an ultimate goal of working for the United Nations. Yasmeen also loves yoga and horseback riding. Though she hasn’t been able to travel to see her family in Jordan for over a year, her parents visited in February, shortly before the quarantine. Yasmeen lives in Franklin Lakes with her husband, a newly graduated doctor.

Cassandra

Cassandra found ECF while seeking an opportunity to help people in need. “There are many people coping with a lot,” she says. “Especially in today’s times.” Cassandra grew up in Ramsey, NJ, and still lives there, and is about to start a position in a nursing home.  She finds volunteering for ECF rewarding, whether she is assisting with clerical work or delivering groceries and gifts to families. During this challenging time with the pandemic, Cassandra says she tries to “stay as optimistic as possible and help how I can. Everyone has a different type of situation they are dealing with.” In addition to working and volunteering, she loves being outdoors, especially hiking and kayaking.