Holy Angels resident Megan loves the lighthouse she built with volunteens Elliana and Lydia Ryan. (Below) Second-year volunteen Aidan Flynn, a Charlotte Catholic High School sophomore, plays “Jeopardy” with Holy Angels resident Aiden.BELMONT — This summer, 48 young volunteers from Mecklenburg and Gaston County participated in the Holy Angels Volunteen Program, dedicating their time to supporting residents in a myriad of ways. These “Volunteens” played games, listened to music, participated in Camp Hope activities and created meaningful connections with the residents. Many young Catholics used their faith to support the ministry.
Holy Angels provides a home of loving, living and learning for the differently abled in Belmont. The nonprofit is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Mercy and has been serving this population since 1955. Holy Angels currently serves 81 residents from 16 months to 82 years old.
Lila McGarry, a rising sophomore from Charlotte Catholic High School, described her experience as transformative. “I had a wonderful experience volunteering at Holy Angels. I made a lot of great memories with the residents, and all of the staff were so kind and welcoming,” she said.
McGarry’s connection to Holy Angels began in 2023, sparked by her grandmother’s dedication to the mission. “Her love for Holy Angels helped spark my love for volunteering here. My last two summers have really revealed to me how God shines through everyone in so many different ways.”
For many Volunteens, their time at Holy Angels deepened their understanding of compassion and service. Drexel High School student Lydia Ryan reflected on her experiences and shared a particularly touching moment: “My sister Ellie and I built a 3D lighthouse puzzle for one of the residents, Megan. When we surprised her with it, I have never seen a bigger smile! She kept saying ‘Thank you’ and demanded hugs from everyone. It was a moment I’ll never forget.”
Catholic students who volunteered over the summer represented schools including Charlotte Catholic, Drexel, Holy Trinity Middle School and St. Michael School, as well as Catholic students who attend public school or are homeschooled.
“We love our volunteens,” said Holy Angels President and CEO Kerri Massey. “These exceptional young supporters bring so much energy to our campus. It is incredibly special watching them become friends with our residents as they play games, participate in music therapy, and do arts and crafts with them. Our residents love the volunteens, and the volunteens love our residents.”
Looking ahead, the volunteens from Charlotte Catholic are taking their passion for service further by planning to start a Holy Angels club at school.
“I’m excited to share this experience with my peers. It will be a deeply powerful experience where we can help others and make a difference, as God has called us to do,” McGarry said.
The Volunteen Program is a way to connect younger supporters to the mission of Holy Angels and helps to teach compassion, service and belonging. While this program runs primarily during the summer, there are additional service opportunities for these teens throughout the year. For more information about Holy Angels, go to www.holyangelsnc.org.
— Shawn Flynn, Special to the Catholic News Herald
