At iACT, we have great appreciation for the wonderful volunteers who make our service work possible! In this Volunteer Spotlight iACT Volunteer Chuck Vorspan tells us a little more about himself.
Chuck Vorspan
Q: How long have you been in Austin?
About 45 years.
Q: How long have you volunteered with iACT?
About 25 – 30 years.
Q: What made you want to volunteer with iACT?
In the early 1990s as a board member of Congregation Beth Israel and co-chair of its Social Action Department I felt that the Jewish community needed to interact more with the greater religious community in Austin. And after 9/11, I especially felt the need for Jewish and Muslim communities to get to know each other. AAIM and then iACT were the perfect medium to make those things happen. Through iACT we have had many Interfaith activities including sharing each other’s religious services, working on homes that needed upgrades for safety and longevity and also sharing dialogue through iACT’s Red Bench.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working with iACT?
The most enjoyable and the most productive for the purpose of getting religious communities to interact was the Hands on Housing program. I saw many friendships developed through those programs
Q: What’s the most challenging thing about working with iACT that you experienced?
Again, the Hands on Housing program is a wonderful program. It is challenging to guide un experienced volunteers through a project with which we and the homeowner can be proud.
Q: What’s the most rewarding thing about working with iACT that you experienced?
There are two very rewarding parts of the HOH work. One; meeting and getting to know diverse volunteers, and secondly; seeing the happiness of the homeowners upon a complete job.
Q: Why would you encourage others to perform similar volunteer work with iACT?
Working with HOH is a great way to meet and interact with new people and also to know you are Helping others enjoy their home and their life. And participating in iACT’s Red Bench program is a great way to understand other people’s ideas and diverse opinions.
