Worker for the World: Maryn Moreau

INTERVIEW WITH WORKER FOR THE WORLD, MARYN MOREAU, PJA CLASS OF 2021

You are making the most of your first year of high school! Tell us about all of the volunteering and advocacy work you have been involved in.

• I was a CIT (volunteer) at an art camp this summer
• I worked at Blanchet House during the summer helping distribute meals and organize clothes and food donations
• I did the Climate Strike at the start of the year 
• I participated in a SOLVE trash clean up around my school's neighborhood
• I cleaned books at the Children's Book Bank
• I worked with Store to Door and shopped for people who couldn't shop
• I made animal posters for the school telling kids and teachers about how to keep our pets safe 
• I did diaper wrapping with the PDX Diaper Bank twice and ran a diaper drive at school
• I worked at a bake sale at school for IRCO (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization)
• I made cookies for the IRCO bake sale 
• I made dog toys and treats for Oregon Humane Society
• I am starting a Toy Drive for Doernbecher Children's Hospital (at Pacific Crest)
• I am creating a volunteer opportunity with CHAP in a few weeks at Pacific Crest (It is connected to the Doernbecher project)

What inspired you to partner with these particular organizations and take on these responsibilities? 
I love helping anywhere I can. I tend to gravitate towards working with kids and animals. I have done a bunch of projects with the Oregon Humane Society and Doernbecher Children's Hospital. 

What has been the best part of the work you are doing?
Knowing that I have made people's lives a bit easier and that I am bringing joy to others. People don’t always realize how much it means to people when you give them food and other resources to help them stay safe and bring them joy. 

What has been the biggest challenge?
Finding places that are taking donations and volunteers in the midst of COVID. Some places are only taking ages 16 and up or 18 and up and I am only 14 so I have needed to be resourceful. 

What kind of advice would you give someone your age or younger who is looking to do meaningful volunteer work?
Find projects and organizations that interest you, I have found that for many people when they enjoy the work they are doing it feels more meaningful and they have more fun doing it! Contact places and ask friends and teachers for ideas for places to volunteer or donate to. 

Anything else you would like to share with the PJA community?
When you graduate from PJA, don’t stop Working for the World. PJA has an amazing Service Learning program, and you should keep doing good in the community and helping others!