At a recent volunteer appreciation party in Austin, CTN sat down with one of its stand-out members, Andrea Romero. Andrea has been volunteering with CTN since September of 2018, mainly supporting the Connect @ Home project at Rebekah Baines Johnson Center. She’s a dedicated volunteer for many projects across Austin, including those by Mobile Loaves and Fishes, Austin Free-Net, and Drive-A-Senior. When asked about Connect @ Home, Andrea told CTN this.
“I cherish my time working with the seniors from RBJ. Each visit includes laughs, stories, and valuable connections! Being a part of the client’s journey in discovering how to use technology to enhance their lives is very rewarding. I remember helping one gentleman set up his email account and send an email to his daughter, and before the session was over, receiving an email back from his daughter with photos attached of his grandkids. The smile on his face when he opened the photos on his tablet was priceless! He was beyond excited and grateful that he had learned a new way of connecting with his family! Another time, one of the clients invited me over for a cup of hot chocolate while I showed her how to order groceries that can be delivered, easily from her tablet.”
Moments like these put the importance of volunteering into perspective. Each and every day, volunteers like Andrea are helping cross the digital divide with kindness and compassion. She is constantly “inspired by their desire to learn and hard work, feel enriched by the personal relationships, and feel more connected to my city.” The CTN team is extremely grateful for Andrea’s contributions to the Connect @ Home family!
