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Chelsea Harlos, center, a senior in human development and family sciences, plays Uno with a group of girls at the Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis Monday. Harlos works full time as the volunteer coordinator at the club while also taking classes at Oregon State University.

Volunteer says goodbye to Club

'Enthusiastic' Boys & Girls Club Volunteer Coordinator says goodbye to children, coworkers

By: Kaci D. Sintek

Posted: 6/2/08

Amidst flying ping-pong balls, hand-made rainbow colored paper flowers and hundreds of four-and-a-half feet tall kids that would make the energizer bunny look slow, Chelsea Harlos, 23, joins the rush in the Clubhouse with bright eyes and a big smile.

Harlos, a senior in human development and family sciences, is not only a full-time student at Oregon State University, but is also working as an AmeriCorps VISTA as the volunteer coordinator at the Corvallis Boys & Girls Club.

However, after working at the club for five years, the non-profit organization will lose Harlos this year as she retires from the position to pursue her career.

Harlos started as an All Star Cheerleading coach for the Albany YMCA back in high school and ended up harboring ties to the Boys and Girls Club. She became active within the club as a freshman in college and has recently started working as the volunteer coordinator and AmeriCorps VISTA for the past year.

AmeriCorps is a national community service program that chooses select individuals to serve in low income neighborhoods and work full time at the poverty level, making less than $700 a month.

"It's very stressful but very worth it," Harlos said.

Growing up, Harlos described how she had a "good" life with few financial problems. However, her world changed after entering the club, igniting a passion to serve others less fortunate than her.

"It definitely changes your view on what you want to do," she said after explaining her switch from studying education to social services upon working at the Boys and Girls Club.

The Clubhouse is one of three different after-school programs provided by the Boys and Girls Club. Serving roughly 350 kindergarten through 12th-grade students a day, the club offers a safe haven for kids that often come from families in need.

"It's a great place for everyone. Every hour and every day makes a difference," Harlos said about volunteering. Since being hired into her current position, she has worked to transform the volunteer application process into a safer, more affective procedure.

She was excited about working as the volunteer coordinator because it allowed her to find more quality volunteers that filled the club environment with more positive role models.

"Chelsea brings a lot of enthusiasm and sets the tone," Clubhouse Director Matt Fee said about Harlos' relationship with the volunteers.

Having one person in charge of all of the volunteers helps a lot, especially when Harlos makes sure to introduce all of the non-paid employees to the rest of the staff to help them feel embraced, Fee said.

The job can be far from easy though.

"You face a lot of challenges in the kids that you serve," Harlos said.

There was actually a point in which Harlos fostered two girls from the Clubhouse. She taught gymnastics to them after their mother overdosed on drugs in front of them.

In Harlos' case though, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Harlos' own mother is a clinical social worker and heads the Family Support Project within the Education Service District.

"She's great at what she does," Harlos said of her mom. "She's one of those people that only gives."

But Harlos' friends and coworkers find that description fits Harlos herself as well.

"In the dictionary under awesome, you'll find Chelsea," said Program Assistant Nelia Mendonca.

Mendonca has been working at the club for almost 17 years and has seen many staff come and go.

"There are a few that stand out that are incredible and she is one that's on top," Mendonca said.

"When she sees something that needs to be done, she does it."

Harlos proved her co-worker's point by interrupting Mendonca's interview to tell her that she would be leaving for a few minutes to get shoes donated by Payless for a boy in the club. She had just noticed a child playing in the Clubhouse with toes sticking out of his tattered shoes.

"The kids love her," Mendonca said about Harlos' rapport with the kids.

"I know all of their names," Harlos said. "Believe me, I've been tested."

Fee, along with many others, is sorry to see Harlos leaving after finishing school this summer. She will be moving to Portland and may potentially work for the Department of Human Services. However, "the process will stay here long after she's gone," Fee said of Harlos' rebuilding the volunteer process.

With a tilt of the head and a slight smirk, Harlos said that she wants to be remembered in the club as "always being enthusiastic."

"I'll always have ties to the club no matter if it's volunteering or a job. They're great clubs no matter where they are," she smiled.

Kati Hastie, a 9-year-old from Corvallis, sums up Harlos in three simple yet powerful words: "She helps people."

Kaci D. Sintek, special to The Daily Barometer

news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231