Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Delach.
Hi Molly, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was in high school I discovered my passion for helping others. During this time in my life, I gained an understanding of the importance of helping those inside and outside of my community. Living in the Chicago suburbs, there were plenty of opportunities for me to partake in that would guide me to helping others. I first started volunteering at local food shelters by cooking and serving food to the homeless. I then started getting involved with Feed My Starving Children-a nonprofit organization that packages and distributes food to starving children in developing countries. I also got involved in my church by volunteering to make and organize Thanksgiving food boxes and Christmas Pajama donations during the holiday season. Around this time, I met Reverend Larry Bullock, the Reverend at Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Deer Park, IL. He is a kind, passionate, and intelligent pastor who focuses on forming a sense of community in his church. I reached out to him asking if he needed any help running anything and he responded with a joyful yes. Most of the people who attended his church spoke English as a second language, and during my time serving them I was able to prepare breakfast and help them improve their English. Being able to see my impact firsthand allowed me to appreciate helping those in my community even more than I already had. I soon realized I wanted to make an even bigger and better impact; Reverend Bullock mentioned that there was a sister parish in Ethiopia that needed some help. After doing some research, I recruited a team of individuals from my school and the local community to help make toiletry kits for unemployed individuals living in Ethiopia. My main goal with this project was to give hope and optimism to these individuals. I planned to achieve this by providing them with toiletry kits, which would allow them to look fresh for an interview and hopefully gain employment. After many generous donations, my team and I were able to make kits with razors, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste, a toothbrush, and light snacks.
After my kits got delivered to the parish in Ethiopia, I received letters from the individuals expressing their gratitude and their hope for their future. More than anything, it is heartwarming to know that I can make an impact in a community so far away, and you can too. I have not only been able to aid local communities, but I have learned that distance is not a barrier. As well, I have developed relationships with people that will have an impact on my outlook on life forever; some of the impoverished people I was helping were the happiest people I have ever met.
As I got older, I participated in mission trips to help rebuild homes and I continued to serve others around me. Within my first year of college, I was living in New Orleans; several hurricanes impacted the area and many families were left with no power and flooded streets for days. Although it was devastating, I was able to help the New Orleans community by putting together boxes of food and donating them to food banks. Throughout my second year at college, I have still held a strong passion to help others around me. As well, I have made it one of my priorities to help myself by gaining professional experience. I have an upcoming internship as a Social Media Marketing Intern, and I believe my passion for helping others will aid me in becoming the best marketer I can be.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Throughout this past year, I have undergone a lot of changes. I initially attended a prestigious university in New Orleans, but I quickly realized it was not the right fit for me. Although I had a great time and would not change anything, this experience taught me that although something may seem perfect for you, you never know how it will really be until you experience it. I know I am now where I am supposed to be and I have surrounded myself with students who are change-makers. I had loved every minute of my new experience at the University of San Diego.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
This month I will be starting my internship with the Ashley Martinez Group in San Diego. The company focuses on helping its clients start conversations that matter and building loyal communities that thrive through owned, shared, and paid media. My roles as a social media marketing intern will range from the social media community management and marketing project management to copywriting, content creation, and data analytics. I believe this opportunity will enable me to implement what I have learned throughout my college experience as a Marketing and Business Analytics major in order to improve my professional skills.
Contact Info:
- Email: mdelach@sandiego.edu
