Service in Transition: How Volunteering Keeps Gia Simms Engaged & Empowered

On the evening of January 20, Gia Simms researched volunteer opportunities in Alexandria. She came across United Way of the National Capital Area’s mid-year Stuff the Bus event at United Way Worldwide Headquarters in Alexandria. 
 
Gia reached out to United Way NCA Volunteer Engagement Manager Liza Feiler, who welcomed her early the next day along with dozens of other volunteers. 
 
“The energy is palpable,” Simms said while packing kits for students. “There’s just so much gratitude and giving. It shows you how there are so many different ways in which one can contribute.” 
 
Simms immediately signed up to volunteer again in February to help high school students during a mock interview session at United Way NCA’s DC office. 
 
“Working with high school students now, especially at a stage in their life where they’re looking beyond school, to employment, I think it’s critically important,” Simms said. “We all lift each other up and I’m sure some of the high school students have been through certain things in lives that I never would have dreamed of, so I’m expecting to learn from them, as well.’ 
 
After completing a federal research study as a bilingual field researcher with a local nonprofit, Simms is now exploring new career opportunities. A dedicated educator at heart, she previously taught Spanish at both the middle and high school levels, bringing her passion for language and learning to every classroom.   
 
“Much of my day is spent doing job hunting-related activities. But it can be quite solitary,” Simms said. “We as human beings need each other. We really do. Human interactions face-to-face are so invaluable. They’re so uplifting.” 
 
Simms encourages others to volunteer and give back in any way they can. She says she gets just as much out of it as she puts in. 
 
“This helps me contribute to the community in a different way, meeting people who are also volunteering, sharing information with them about what they do, what brings them here. It gives me a chance, while I’m looking for new employment, to stay engaged. It helps you stay grounded. It helps you with your perspective. It helps you stay sharp,” Simms said. “For all the positivity we put into something, we get it back tenfold when we’re volunteering.”

Learn more about our volunteer opportunities on unitedwaynca.org