Some people are planners; they know in advance that service-driven work is something they were built for. They know deep down in their bones that God is calling them toward something that is greater than themselves. (Cue Bridget McCormack).

I am not one of those people. Perhaps it is part of my capricious nature that I jump at an opportunity when it is presented to me, and don’t do too much analyzing because it feels right. So far, this method of living has worked out well. It is the reason I am here at CAP. Applying, interviewing, and discerning if CAP was right for me was one of the easiest processes of my life. It just felt right.

One of the reasons why CAP felt like a natural choice is because of the type of organization that CAP is; everyone at CAP is accessible, from the newest volunteer up the chain to the CEO. CAP’s foundation lies within the souls of its volunteers, and CAP makes every effort to ensure that its volunteers are taken care of extremely well. The employees put forth the effort to make the transition into volunteer life as easy and as smooth as possible. For long-term volunteers, CAP does its best to make it not only spiritually rewarding, but rewarding in logistical ways.

While the $150.00 per month stipend isn’t that large, neither are my expenses. CAP volunteers don’t have to worry about rent, food, or utilities: all of those things are provided as part of the CAP experience. My biggest worry post-grad was how to get health insurance, which is another added benefit of CAP; they pay the premiums, and have a separate fund to help cover some medical costs. One of the larger stressors of post-graduate life was the responsibility of paying back student loans. However, CAP offers potential AmeriCorps Education Awards as an option for long-term volunteers, and also has a more limited number of awards for those only seeking a short-term volunteer opportunity. In today’s job market, and close to $30,000.00 in student loan debt, CAP provided me an opportunity to gain new skills, defer payments on my student loans, and give me money to pay off those loans.

This essay was written by Julia McStravog, a long-term volunteer in CAP’s Family Advocacy Program.