Ali Iovino

My Very Own Blanket

Volunteer

Dublin, OH

December 21, 2015

My Very Own Blanket

My Very Own Blanket is an awesome organization to participate with. There are so many jobs that it can be a bit overwhelming at first, but you can pick whatever you are comfortable with doing and stick with it. You do not need to be a skilled sewer by any means – there are so many different types of jobs that can be done. Plus, everyone there is super helpful if you’re not a very skilled sewer (like me!) wanting to learn more at the machines. I think 3 hours is a perfect amount of time for this event – long enough to get in the groove of things and really accomplish a lot! It’s a very relaxing and laid back environment and a great way to kick off the weekend. I would definitely recommend these events!

YMCA of Central Ohio

Volunteer

Dublin, OH

November 12, 2015

Serving Dinner to Families

Volunteering at the Van Buren Shelter is great! The staff and people we serve dinner to are always so friendly and appreciative (and, as always, the Besa team is amazing too). The event is organized incredibly well and the time flies by! I would definitely encourage everyone to participate – it really is such a welcoming and rewarding experience.

LifeCare Alliance

Volunteer

Dublin, OH

October 23, 2015

Meals-On-Wheels

Volunteering with the LifeCare Alliance/Meals-on-Wheels are such great events! I've done something a little different each time. There is usually an assembly line formed and the time goes by so quickly! Always a fun group of people and an awesome way to spend a Monday evening.

Mid-Ohio Foodbank

Volunteer

Dublin, OH

August 16, 2015

Beautification Project: Urban Farms Mural

I haven't done a wide variety through Besa and loved everything I have done, but I have to say this was the most fun and probably the coolest event I've done so far. I'm not a very artistic person so the paint-by-numbers aspect was fantastic plus I enjoyed learning about the farm itself! I'd love to volunteer at other projects around the farm and hope more beautification opportunities like that around Columbus become available! Great experience!

Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center

Volunteer

Dublin, OH

August 16, 2015

First Time Unloading The Truck At CRC

Loved going to this event! Matthew and the other volunteers made me feel so welcome participating in this for the first time. Everyone was laughing and having fun - plus it was a great workout. I'll be adding this to the list of my monthly Besa events to sign up for!

Besa Community

Volunteer

Dublin, OH

August 16, 2015

Tom Fennessy/Mike Harden Back to School Project

Filling backpacks for the
Tom Fennessy/Mike Harden Back to School Project was a lot of fun! I know there was a miscommunication about the dress code/sandals but everything else was awesome. I went with some colleagues and they enjoyed it as well and asked that I keep this in mind for the company to do next year. Great people, very well organized, and a great cause! I hope Besa will organize another group for this in 2016!

Ronald McDonald House Charities Of Central Ohio

Volunteer

Dublin, OH

May 18, 2015

First Besa Experience

Helping to clean the Ronald McDonald House was great! This was my first Besa experience and Sarah and the other volunteers made me feel so welcome. Even though they had been volunteering with Besa for an extended period of time they still took the time to give me a tour of the house and go over what needed to be done. RMH is a great cause, I just wish there were more opportunities than just once a month! I will definitely be exploring more opportunities with Besa!