From the Volunteer Office
Dear Valued Volunteers,
May is a time when the world around us begins to bloom once again, and with it, so does our passion for service ever continue to grow as summer draws near. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our volunteers whose simple acts of kindness and shared talents are the seeds of positive change that grow our programs so we can serve more neighbors in need.
What's Inside this Month's Report:
- May's Birthdays and Volunteer Anniversaries
- Your Impact... in hours!
- Volunteer Shout Outs
- Client Spotlight Story — Naomi Stays Connected!
- Agency News — RIS Staff out in the Community
- Galaxy Reminders/Help
- Photo Gallery
"I really enjoy doing this work. I didn't realize it was going to be so rewarding and fun. I've done a lot of volunteer work over the years, and this is probably the most rewarding experience had.” — Cindy, English at Home Tutor
Your Impact in Hours
May Volunteer Hours
This past month, 95 volunteers contributed 1,344.09 hours!
The Impact during May on Our Neighbors in Need
Refugee and Immigration Services Volunteer Impact
- There are 27 citizenship learners being served and 65 English language learners being served.
- Our YouTube channel has 30 new videos (in 10 different languages) with 28.2K views, and 384 new subscribers thanks our translations volunteers who help make this possible.
Adult Day Center Volunteer Impact
- Impacting 17 members!
- Comforted by companionship and as always, enjoyed the many arts and crafts!
Total Volunteer Hours for 2025 to Date
6,911.44 Hours!
Client Spotlight!
Going the Extra Mile to Keep Naomi Connected
Naomi, a member of Catholic Charities’ Adult Day Center since April 2024, attends four days a week and finds joy in the music that our volunteers share and the simple comfort of being around others. While she isn’t always able to participate in every activity due to living with Alzheimer’s and anxiety, with the gentle support of our staff and volunteers, Naomi is able to join in on art days and remains a cherished part of our community.
Before joining us, Naomi attended a different program but experienced severe anxiety during the long van rides, often resulting in panic attacks. Her family turned to Catholic Charities Adult Day Center for its closer location, making attendance more manageable.
This past May, when the van that usually transports Naomi went in for service, it could have meant missing out on the programs and personal connections that are such a vital part of her routine. But thanks to the thoughtfulness of the transportation service owner and one of his employees, the driver pictured on the left stepped in and chose to personally wheel Naomi the five blocks to and from her home — rain or shine. His dedication to Naomi’s well-being kept her connected to the community she loves.
"This is one of the kindest gestures I've seen.” -Annette, Adult Day Center Director
At the heart of stories like Naomi’s are the volunteers and staff who bring warmth, patience, and purpose to each day. Whether it’s through music, a shared conversation, or helping with a brushstroke during art time, you create an environment where our members feel safe, valued, and included. Thank you for being the reason members like Naomi look forward to coming each day — and special thanks to the dedicated driver who quite literally went the extra mile to keep Naomi connected.
RIS Staff out in the Community!
Solar Panel Project
"Reporting financial fraud is not the typical work that we do in RIS, but being client-centered is. Last summer, when the first client told me they had a large loan for solar panels that they never took out, my heart sank. I knew I wanted to fix it, but I wasn’t sure how. When the second client told me that he and two friends also had solar loans, my heart started racing as I wondered how many people in the Rohingya community were potentially impacted and what had happened."
"Because of our agency’s strong relationships with Rohingya community members, people trusted our agency with their stories. We soon found out that an American salesman with an interpreter approached dozens of Rohingya families with an opportunity for solar panels. They offered unbelievable incentives and never disclosed that they’d be taking out high-interest loans ranging from $50,000-$89,000. When they came to us, victims were under incredible financial stress and also felt violated by the community member they trusted to interpret."
"At the start, I wasn’t sure what to do but I reached out to a community partner who reached out to their contact who connected us with the State of Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Since we reported the first case in July 2024, we’ve established an incredible collaboration with the DATCP, and 42 families have made reports. DATCP helped the victims, and our agency navigate the bureaucracy of getting the loans cancelled and as of May 2025, more than $1 million in loans from victims in the Rohingya community have been forgiven. In the course of its investigation, DATCP discovered other Wisconsin communities impacted by the same scam and, in total, more than $2 million in loans have been forgiven."
"Our partnership with DATCP and success has been so unique that they highlighted it at the State Consumer Protection Conference in March 2025!" — Claire Reuning
Pictured: Harun Rashid (Refugee Education Developer) & Claire Reuning (Refugee Integration Specialist) - RIS
How to Record your hours in Galaxy Digital
Link to Our Volunteer Portal: www.volunteer.ccmke.org
Click on the button below to watch a video on how to log your volunteer hours:
Common Question 1.) How do I view the hours I've already logged?
To review any volunteer hours you've already logged, log onto your account and make sure you are on your DASHBOARD page (top left corner tool bar). It should be yellow. If not, click on it. Then you should see the page below. Click on the yellow stop clock that says VOLUNTEER HOURS.
You will then see a page like this below. It will have all of your hours that you've ever completed listed.
Common Question 2.) I accidently logged hours on the wrong date. Is there a way I can correct that?
First, you will need to delete the hours that were logged incorrectly. Log onto your account and go to your hours page. It should look like this:
Then, you will select which hours you wish to delete. Click on the left white box next to the date of the incorrect hours.
Lastly, you will then click on the trash icon under the header "Volunteer Hours" to delete.
Now you can re-log your hours. See the top video if you need a refresher on how to log your hours.
Common Question 3.) I can't log onto the portal. What should I do? Should I create a new account?
If you cannot log onto the portal, please do not create a new account. Please email volunteer@ccmke.org for assistance. I will send you your username and a new password to get you logged in.
Have a success story big or small that you would like to share? We would LOVE to hear it!
We invite and encourage volunteers in all roles to share your story with us! It is a great way to encourage prospective volunteers to join us.
Photo Gallery
THANK YOU!
Credits:
Created with images by damien - "blue birthday cake with candles" • sulit.photos - "Male hands holding a white heart in blue background top view. Kindness, charity and compassion concept." • chernikovatv - "Beautiful white cumulonimbus clouds against the background of the bright blue sky"