My Nonprofit Reviews

I have been chatting with seniors on the phone for approximately two years with Friendly Voices. I had no idea when I started this volunteer work how important it is and how much I would enjoy it. It's interesting, rewarding and fun. It's easy to do from home, and feels wonderful. My seniors have been appreciative and friendly, and I've enjoyed them enormously. I get as much from them as they from me. I also enjoy working with my Friendly Voices mentor as well as Laura, the executive director. Any questions I have are quickly answered by one of them. I intend to be a caring buddy and do the best job I can possibly do, so when I have a question I am grateful to have people in Friendly Voices who know me and help me be the best I can be.

Having been born with a cleft lip in the U.S., I was treated by an uncle who helped develop the plastic surgery for cleft lip repair. I was very fortunate. It took a few surgeries, but almost no one sees it now, some 60 years later. This is an important organization, and I donate monthly.

I donate all profits from the book I published in 2021 called "Walking with the King" by Linda Katuna Harvey in honor of my dad. It took me a long time to review the many organizations that would honor the beliefs and courage of my dad, Irving Katuna. He was in the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march and met Martin Luther King, Jr. He reached his own mountain top and asked for this book to be written all his life. He missed reading the first draft by three days. I can't think of a more worthy organization to connect my dad to the civil rights movement as a lasting legacy. Thank you, SPLC, for all you do.

I have been a volunteer with Friendly Voices for almost one year. Since I am a telephone person, it has been a wonderful experience for me speaking with someone else who likes chatting on the phone. It takes little time and is well supported with volunteers at all levels who can answer questions and give advice. Since I'm working full-time, this is the perfect volunteer opportunity that I do from home and takes about 15 minutes a week.