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Back in November 2006 after searching the net for a while, April found
Animals for Awareness and decided immediately that she wanted to help.
Knowing she had little money she could donate, she wanted to help out
other ways, so she wanted to volunteer and decided she was going to go
for it. After contacting Kim, she went for her orientation and has been
hooked ever since. Once she saw some of the animals she was a bit
nervous, but very impressed with them. She got over her fears quickly
and jumped in with both feet!
April has been working full time for a health
insurance company since 2001, and currently lives in Downers Grove with
her fiancé Bill, a bearded dragon named Noah (compliments of AFA), 2
sugar gliders named Nitro and Zoey and a Dumeril's ground boa named
Jake the snake.
There is just soo much that April loves about
coming out. She loves the one on one interaction she gets with most of
the animals, that AFA strives to give the animals love and enrichment
rather than just feeding and leaving them, and that AFA educates people
about these animals. The programs are also her personal favorite. In
fact, April is now doing many of the educational programs on her own.
She says the looks of awe on people's faces when she take some of the
animals out is worth it. She's learned so much about the animals since
she's started and is looking forward to learning more and even teaching
others to do programs. There are times when there are projects that
need to be taken on and April loves to take a hold of them and get them
done. When there is something that needs an improvement she is always
there to make a suggestion on what she thinks will help. Her personal
favorite critters here are Denali (our youngest Canada lynx), Molasses
(one of our kinkajous), and the prairie dogs. We don't have to worry
about April getting hurt by any of the animals since she is a bit of a
clutz. We just worry about her hurting herself on cages, tools, trees,
projects etc... :) April rates as one of the MVV's on our team - MOST
VALUABLE VOLUNTEER.
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