Marty’s Impact at YES | Volunteer Spotlight

For Marty, service has always been a core value—and the same is true for his church, St. Thomas Lutheran Church. This shared commitment to giving back led him to Youth Emergency Services (YES) in April 2023, where he began volunteering weekly to support youth in the community.

“Seeing the whole programming at YES—being able to take in young people and get them on their feet—that inspired me,” Marty says.

Every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., you’ll find Marty at the YES Drop-In Center, doing whatever needs to be done—from cleaning and organizing pantry deliveries to packing bags and helping run the Center’s store. He even hosted a donation drive through St. Thomas, helping collect essential items for youth in need.

“I enjoy doing it all where I feel I can help,” he shares. “It’s become a driving force in our church—to get out there physically and do things.”

What Marty enjoys most is connecting with youth and staff. Whether he’s chatting casually at the Center or celebrating their wins, he finds meaning in each interaction.

“What little bit I do—hopefully I can help make things easier for somebody else,” he says. “If I can give staff an extra two minutes with a young person by giving back, it’s worth it.”

Volunteering at YES, he says, has opened his eyes to new perspectives. “I get to see different things. And I’m happy to help people connect with youth—helping them help others.”