Jessica Vigos

Civically Engaged Scholars Changing the World by Giving Service!!!!

Over the past two years I have been involved in giving service to Salt Lake County Animal Services, Best Friends Animal Society, The Sharing Place and The Pride Center. I feel that giving services greatly impacts your community, the way we view the world and helps us grow as individuals. Giving service only costs me my time and what I gain from it is priceless!!! Here are some of the projects I have completed. 

2014 

I decided early on in life that I would make a difference for animals weather that be in my personal choices-being cruelty free, eating more of a plant based diet or getting involved. My journey has included everything from protesting, networking, lobbying, writing government officials, contacting media, leading groups and never being quiet when it come to bringing attention to animal issues.  One of my favorite experiences was volunteering with Salt Lake County Animal Services to be a kitten nursery volunteer and later on part of Cat Crusaders! I contributed over 245 hours over 2 years. It was such a rewarding experience and led me to my current job in animal welfare.

For the full article on the kitten nursery and our accomplishments please follow the link!!!   http://bestfriends.org/News-And-Features/News/Kitten-nursery-helps-little-ones-of-Salt-Lake-County/

More Sharing Place photos!!!

to learn more about The Sharing Place please visit http://www.thesharingplace.org/ 

The Sharing Place

The Sharing Place is provides a safe space for people to come and heal. Some people may be here for months some for several years. There is a long wait list and the longest wait is for teens, they serve over 200 children and teens. Everyone is welcome to be who they are and express their feelings in a way that is comfortable to them. There are no expectations or models of how one will behave. For each person the experience is different and for each person the tools they gain or hold onto is also different. 
I initially contacted The Sharing Place wanting to be part of the grief counselor volunteer group. These groups are entirely run by volunteers who have gone through training and to help facilitate groups. There is only 2 or 3 paid staff members, the rest of the 144 people are dedicating their time because they too have been touched by grief and loss or have a connection to those going through this. The training these folks go to is 3 days and paid out of their own pockets. The Sharing Place is unique in the way that it addressed an issue many are not prepared to talk about or to face in their lives, especially not children and teens. The Sharing Place is for dealing with the feelings associated with grief and loss of a loved one. The reason I choose The Sharing Place is because I too have been deeply affected by loss in my own life and in my own childhood.

When I went to the facility originally I was given a tour of the facility. The Sharing Place is located in Millcreek by the cemetery many of my family members are actually buried in. The center has a very homey feel to it and in fact is utilizing the space of a large home built in the 1930’s. It is very inviting, warm and homey. I immediately felt good here. They have many different rooms for the small children to express themselves talking with the talking stick in the pillow room, making card or writing letters in craft room. There is a great magnet board wall of all sorts of words; kids can pick words to describe feelings etc. My favorite room is the “remember me” room with photos of loved one that have left this earth of past and present clients. This room has an intense energy and was most definitely my favorite. For the teens they have a large open room with comfy chairs and couches, a round table and a kitchen. This environment creates a welcome and relaxed atmosphere. They have two separate yards one is a quiet garden with stone, fountains and trees. Prayer flags drape the back walls and charms and wind chimes hang from the trees. The other yard has a large fire pit with benches and literally hundreds of painted stones and bricks. Some have loved ones names, a word, pictures but all unique. This area as many of the areas inside the house is bright and filled with the presence of an intense yet calm energy. From the moment I walked in I felt at home. 

 (Cont. column 2)  Once I meant with Ceicili Matteson it was clear that what she needed the most help with was a volunteer appreciation project. The volunteers are the reason they can offer 15 individual groups a week, they are they glue, the essence they whole reason this non-profit can do the amazing work they do! Ceicili showed me a few projects from the past that people had made; one was really unique pillow cases of brightly colored, multi design materials. Each one was unique and fun, she had made several hundred. There were art projects and small tokens of appreciation, Ceicili had many past projects she showed me to get my thoughts going. 

I thought of my own Mom when she was alive, she always gave me little trinket boxes, small unique containers carved or painted, designed with something beautiful. I cherish each one of them and have them throughout my home. Then I thought of my prayer box my sister has made me and other unique things she has made and still makes! I said to Ceicili that I thought we should make “Remember Me” tins. Much like the volunteers they could all be individuals, with no two alike. They could be used as a pill box or a place to put a photo, button, piece of jewelry, written words, wished, prayers what ever felt good to that person. I was told there were 144 regular volunteers; boy did I get myself in deep!
I proceeded with 140 tins, mostly Altoids or mint containers, some craft boxes and a bit larger containers made up the collection. There are several steps to making these and the first one being sanding. You must rough up the surface to get the paint to stick, so I sanded and sanded and sanded! Once the sanding is done I spray paint the tins. I choose 4 base colors purple, green, black and white. You spray the tins and allow to fully dry, then they are ready for the second painting phase or antique phase. I hand paint each tin to look old, or to give a textured finish, then you must line the inside of the tins top and bottom with card stock. This means cutting out 140 pieces of papers measured and cut to fit perfectly, snug and look nice in appearance. The next step is making the inside fun with a logo, buttons, mirrors, words, stickers. Finally you are ready to finish the outside by modpodging unique images, words, flowers, paper, embellishments to the tins and last a coat of polyurethane to seal and preserve your treasure.
I think metaphorically this project describes exactly the process of not just grief and loss but of healing. Each surface is roughed up, then little by little changes are made, color is added and come back to life, as you heal new pieces are added or gathered, eventually you begin to be able to grow, to come back to life. You can take different pieces and experience and build on those to make you stronger and finally in the end you have a new and different you, the same in shape but a different appearance or view. Finally you can be all right again, you can be shiny and beautiful and you have changed but you have also remained the same. Each person is unique in the way they deal with grief and loss, each with their own needs.
Each tin was made to be unique as are the volunteers that serve The Sharing Place and while some tins had similarities no two were exactly the same. The difference I made was creating something beautiful to show appreciation for the volunteers, to let them know they unique, fun and valuable impact they have on healing for the clients of The Sharing Place. During the volunteer appreciation ceremony these tins will be presented on trays and each volunteer can select a tin that speaks to them, that says hello, I am part of you!