Almost every day of the week, Martha Benitez can be found volunteering her time at the North Seattle Family Resource Center (NSFRC) in Lake City. 

“I always try to volunteer whenever I can,” Martha said. “I hope I am helping other families, even if it is just a little bit.”

A mother of four children, Martha first got connected to Children’s Home Society of Washington when she was asked to serve on the Early Head Start/Head Start Policy Council. The council is comprised of parents whose children are enrolled in CHSW’s early learning programs as well as community members. They oversee the budget and help set the direction of the Early Head Start/Head Start programs in Washington state.

She began to volunteer eight years ago at NSFRC, which serves about 3,500 children and families annually through family support programs, including parent education, basic needs and English as a Second Language classes.

She has been involved in play and learn groups, craft groups, English as a Second Language classes, and this past year, gave guided tours of the center to dozens of supporters during CHSW’s spring celebration. 

For the past three years, she has led a program for women called Circulo de Mujeres, which empowers women to let their voices be heard in the community, individually and collectively. 

“Martha has been an outstanding volunteer that has given so much back to her community,” said Ann Fuller, NSFRC’s program manager. “We are constantly amazed at her willingness to help out whenever and wherever she can.”