Volunteer Spotlight: Caverlee Dahill
Meet Caverlee, one of our star Core Volunteers! Caverlee volunteers at the center every week helping with events, center improvement projects, and more. Her work in childcare allows her to exercise creativity everyday as she strives to nurture the best little humans possible. She’s been an amazing addition to our community, and we’re lucky to have her! Read on to learn more about what she likes about volunteering with us, her personal endeavors, and her cute dog Ginny!
What motivates you to volunteer?
I am motivated to volunteer by a desire to interact with and serve my community! Volunteering is a great way for me to get involved, meet new people, and make a change in my world, however small.
Why ACR?
I first got involved with ACR for my senior capstone project at UT, wherein I had to interview and explore local sustainable businesses. I had visited as a customer before, but I totally fell in love after I learnt more about the conservation efforts and day-to-day operations of ACR. When I needed an internship for school, it was the first place on my list. I love getting to engage with my creative side while helping out such a unique organization!
Are you more into the arts or conservation aspects of ACR?
Am I allowed to say both? I was first interested in the conservation aspect of ACR because of the unique niche it fills in reuse spaces, and the incredibly impressive conservation work it does. However, I have completely fallen in love with the arts side of things. It’s so much fun to take old materials and see what kind of insane things I can make with them.
What do you enjoy the most out of volunteering at ACR?
I enjoy all the different opportunities to do creative work! There’s so many different things to get involved with here, from processing to customer service to some of the coolest art projects I’ve ever worked on. I also like meeting all the new people! This community is awesome.
Tell us about your most recent creative project!
I work in childcare, so there’s always some sort of arts and crafts that needs doing. Most recently, I’ve been busy organizing an easter egg hunt! LOTS of easter eggs, spring decorations, and Easter coloring sheets that needed hanging. For fun, though, I’ve been working on a new cross-stitch pattern!
What other hobbies or interests do you like to spend time on?
Right now, my time is spent mostly doing schoolwork (RIP). I just finished my undergraduate thesis analyzing responses to queer early childhood literature, which was so fun! Outside of that, I love reading, biking, playing DnD, and watching god-awful reality TV.
Do you have any pets?
I have one dog, Ginny, who is both the light of my life and the most spoiled dog in existence. She is the queen of her universe and, by extension, mine. I would die for her.
What creative projects are you most proud of?
Listen, I can’t take all the credit for it, but I was so proud of how the Batreuse’s Emporium sign turned out that I made my mother visit the store so I could point it out to her.
