Celebrating Reston kids who are making differences in our community
by Lisa Johnson, Staff Writer
Meet Evie, a student at South Lakes High School, a dedicated field hockey player, and an outstanding volunteer in our community. While she enjoys field hockey, track, and participating in school clubs like the art journalism club, her true passion lies in helping others. Evie is deeply committed to volunteering in Reston and the surrounding communities, believing it’s one of the most meaningful ways to spend time. She shares, "If you’re going to spend your time doing something, you might as well try to make the world a little better. That’s how I always feel when I’m able to give back."
One way Evie combines her love of sports with her passion for giving back is by serving as an assistant coach for Girls on the Run, a program that helps young girls stay active while building confidence. Having participated in the program from third to sixth grade, she couldn’t wait to give back once she was old enough to volunteer.
For the past five years, Evie has volunteered with Link Against Hunger, an organization providing food assistance to families in need in Herndon and Sterling. "The organization supports families for up to six months at a time,” she said. “It doesn’t take much time to deliver the food, but I know it makes a big difference to them."
She also organizes clothing drives for the Reston Homeless Shelter and volunteers at Kids Camp at Reston Bible Church, helping children from kindergarten through sixth grade with crafts and activities.
One of her favorite organizations to support is Women Giving Back, which provides free clothing and essential items to women and families in need. Evie has spent much of her time organizing items in their warehouse. "It’s really rewarding," she said. "All the clothing gets arranged into what looks like a store, but everything is free. People can take whatever they need."
Among all her volunteer experiences, the most impactful for Evie was a mission trip to Brazil with her church. For a week, she and her team helped improve local schools—painting, clearing shrubs, and creating a soccer field, volleyball court, and parking lot. "It was amazing to see how my efforts made a difference. I didn’t do anything for myself while I was there, but I still had an incredible time because I saw the impact of our work."
When asked how others—both kids and adults—can get involved in their community, Evie offered this advice: "Start small. You don’t have to do something huge to volunteer. Even if the people you help never know it was you, they will still feel the impact of your kindness."
Do you know a young person in Reston under 18 who has made a difference in their community? Scan the QR code below to nominate them as a Super Citizen in an upcoming issue of The Reston Letter.
Comments