By Mason Reilly

In 2014 Katy Bellamy found her passion in doing charitable works by volunteering. Preparing food, setting up tables and selling products are just some of the many things Bellamy does to help others in many different volunteer opportunities.  

Bellamy, a junior, has volunteered at International Harvester Collectors Club for the past three summers.The club’s prep time is at least one week long, and it takes place at the state fair grounds. At this volunteering venture she is connected with her family because her cousins help at the event as well. Her grandfather was the president of this organization at one point so this allowed for her to volunteer at this event. “The first day is very heavy, remembering faces and chatting while still getting work done,” she said.

Initially Bellamy wanted to volunteer to meet the requirements for National Honors Society, but she has found it more desirable to serve others than just to volunteer for honor of self. She finds the volunteering work to be transcendent from regular paid jobs.

Katy first volunteered for the Mustang Booster Club by helping with game concessions. When volunteering at the Booster Club, Bellamy finds a deeper connection with the Mount Vernon community. “I love seeing people that I don’t know, and then I want to get to know them,”she said. Katy finds that getting to know people is best through charity.

Over J-Term, Bellamy went with the social justice class to the Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity Restore and to the Mission of Hope. At the Restore the social justice class cleaned out old unsellable products to send them to the dump. On this trip Bellamy had predisposed biases. “I thought when we went to volunteer at the Mission of Hope there would be really poor and destitute people coming to the pantry,” she said.  She actually encountered normal looking everyday people. This was surprising to Bellamy that normal people struggle with disadvantages. At the Mission of Hope Bellamy served lunch to these people. She found these people very grateful for their meals.    

This experience pushed Bellamy to go back to the Restore. The second time at the restore, Bellamy labeled prices and brought out products to be sold. Bellamy reminisces on this experience as the best she has had volunteering. The reason for this is be because she worked with people that she had never worked with before.  

Bellamy never felt stressed during volunteer works. “Volunteering helps me with stress; keeps me kalm,” she said. Being busy distracts people from responsibility and worrying about life.

Katy Bellamy is the person to talk to for volunteer opportunities. She suggested the Mount Vernon Booster Club was a good start for her.

Currently Katy is applying for volunteering opportunities at St. Luke’s Hospital and the Cedar Valley Humane Society.