From Maintenance Man to Mentor: One Volunteer’s Commitment to Empowering Local Families

Whether he’s taking down Christmas decorations or mentoring older children, Home of Hope volunteer Peter Rudnick is making a lasting impression on the families he serves. 

“Maureen and her team are providing life-changing opportunities for the families they take in,” Peter shared. “Whatever I can do to organize, fix, clean, beautify or improve the experience of these families in some small way means I’m freeing up their staff to better serve the moms and kids.”

Peter and his family first connected with Home of Hope through their neighbor, Home of Hope Treasurer Ray Stanley, who invited Peter and his wife to attend that year’s charity gala.

“The more we heard about this terrific organization, the more their story resonated with us,” he said.

After the gala, Peter decided to volunteer his time at Home of Hope and has been serving for almost two and a half years. He usually spends his volunteer shifts helping with maintenance projects, playing with the children or spreading the word for fundraising events.

“I’ll take on jobs they need done like power-washing, painting, trimming all their bushes and deep-cleaning carpets,” Peter explained. 

Last Christmas, his adult son joined him to take down Christmas decorations and paint rooms.

But one of Peter’s favorite parts about volunteering is building relationships with the children.

“I started mentoring some of the older boys that were 11 and 12,” he said. “I helped them develop sports skills and would take them outside and have fun while their moms were in class.”

For one family in particular, this relationship has extended beyond Home of Hope. 

Peter began mentoring one 11-year-old boy while at Home of Hope. After the boy’s mother graduated from Home of Hope and moved into an apartment of her own with her two children, she stayed in contact with Peter.

“We continued activities like mini golf and pickleball, and I went to his birthday party,” Peter shared. 

When the family invited Peter to attend the boy’s first little league game of the season, Peter was eager to join, not knowing this game would build a core memory for him and the family. 

After a slower start to the game, the boy came to the plate for his third at-bat.

“I remember praying that he would make good contact with the ball and get a solid hit,” Peter explained. “The pitcher threw one over the plate, and he absolutely smashed it over the outfielder’s head and almost over the fence.

“His teammates were jumping all over him when he crossed home plate on the next batter’s double, and the parents were so happy for him. It was truly a joyous moment.”

These moments further emphasize the commitment of volunteers like Peter to make sure every family in the home feels loved, valued and supported.

“Knowing that you are helping these families go from homelessness and destitution to personal and financial stability is extremely rewarding,” he shared. “The difference in the level of self-worth, confidence and the ability to support their families is typically night and day from when they enter Home of Hope and when they graduate.

“I love serving at Home of Hope.”