Page 103 - Book about Friendship and Future.Stories of Volunteers.

Maria Prunskaya

KFC Altaeer
Yaroslavl

My story of volunteering started a couple of years ago, I was
not a KFC employee then. These were one-time events and minor
actions. I did not have an idea how to arrange that on a more
regular basis. I was afraid of a failure.
At the beginning of 2019 I understood that volunteering was
not a burden, but a joy. I had an idea to deliver masterclasses for
special children. I addressed a local charity fund with a question
about the opportunity to arrange such activities. The coordinator
offered me a program in the “Step by Step” project. Thus, I be-
came an inspirer of creative masterclasses.
My friends and peers from KFC helped me with the arrange-
ments, supporting me emotionally and financially. And then we
started creating handmade articles together with the special
kids and their parents.
For a start we have chosen the Feast of Theophany. We want-
ed to grasp the spirit and beauty of the new year. We were mak-
ing 3D greeting cards. When we saw the result and the cheerful
eyes of the kids shining because of the beauty they had made
with their own hands and heard the words of gratitude from their
parents, we understood that we had taken the right path. Then
there was a remarkable story on the 23rd of February. Other ex-
perts started joining us as well. We painted gingerbreads shaped
as hand bombs and tanks, and made some boxes for them. All the
kids welcomed the opportunity to please their dads and grand-
pas.
On the 8th of March the kids created flower compositions
which they later presented to their beloved moms. For Easter
we designed a composition with small birds and colored eggs.
Some kids even presented their handmade articles at their school
contests.
And we finished the first half of the year with a grand fest for
the kids on the 1st of June. We were visited by a teddy bear Ze-
firka dancing and playing with the kids. The other guests were
teaching the kids to make some tasty chocolate desserts which
we tried a little later.
The second half of the year is ahead and we have a great num-
ber of ideas and plans.