My Mood

Molly came to the Pace Center with a goal: to find a meaningful way to contribute to her community. “In high school I had volunteered just to get service hours, but this wasn’t that. Now that I’m older, I wanted a way to give back to the community.” Her search led her to the Pace Center and Belmont Community Resource Services’ food pantry. Pace partners with Belmont by connecting VCU students who want to volunteer with the pantry. Pace even provides rides to students who don’t have transportation – a common barrier, since the pantry is in Richmond’s southside. 

“I really like volunteering at Belmont because a lot of the clients there speak Spanish. It’s a little self-interested, but I get to practice my Spanish when I go there. And I really like talking to people.”

For someone who once struggled with social anxiety, stepping into a role that required lots of direct interaction with the public was impressive. Eventually, Molly even decided to become a Greeter at Pace. “If you’d asked me three years ago if I was going to be a Greeter, I’d be like, absolutely not. But now, I like to put myself in situations where I know it’s going to be a little bit uncomfortable. So when Russ put out a call for front desk Greeters, I signed up!”

Molly’s call to service isn’t limited to Richmond. When visiting her parents in London, Molly volunteers at the American International Church with her mother. They cook meals, set up beds, and welcome guests for the church’s winter homeless shelter. “I really do feel happier after I volunteer,” Molly said. “Instead of sitting around on my phone all day, I can actually help people. It changes my mood.” 

Through leadership roles as a Greeter and a student leader at Belmont, Molly has learned how to guide and encourage others. “It’s kind of nice to have a place where I’m the leader. Usually I'm the person following instructions. But now, I have enough experience to help other people know where to go. I’ve definitely grown at Pace and especially at Belmont.”

Thanks to the support of our donors, the Pace Center continues to be a place where students like Molly can grow, lead, and make a difference in their communities.