Sharon Zeis

Helping young mothers become fully independent is the goal of DePelchin’s Transitional Living Program. Supporting this goal are caring volunteers like Sharon Zeis, who help make it possible for young women to attend life skills classes and training sessions required for successful completion of the program.

Sharon spends one Saturday each month at DePelchin’s main campus serving as a caregiver for infants and toddlers of Transitional Living Program participants. She provides the children with safe and loving supervision so that their mothers can focus on gaining the necessary skills to make a better life for themselves and their families. In recognition of her exceptional volunteer service, DePelchin has named Sharon Zeis as a Most Valuable Volunteer.

“I absolutely love babies, so this is the perfect volunteer placement for me,” says Sharon enthusiastically. “I feel as if I get more out of it than the children do.”

In addition to being a stellar volunteer, Sharon is a wife, mother of five adult children, and a physical fitness coach and trainer. She enjoys gardening, scrapbooking and reading. Despite her busy schedule, volunteerism is a priority for this native Houstonian, who always balances her career and family obligations to accommodate her volunteer work at DePelchin.

“Whether she’s feeding, diapering, playing games or just cuddling the children in her care, Sharon’s concern for them is evident,” says Kara Elliot, her placement supervisor at DePelchin. “She is patient and kind, and we need more like her.”

When selecting a volunteer position, Sharon advises others to thoughtfully consider their true passions and strengths, then choose a placement that allows them to be used for the benefit of others.