PALs Spotlight

Time Well Spent

Leslie Abrams

Leslie Abrams has volunteered with Jewish Family & Career Services' PAL program, which pairs an adult volunteer with a child from a single-parent household, since January. Abrams tells Julep what motivated her to get involved, how she's learned from the experience, and a little about her buddy.

Why did you get involved with PAL?

I started [participating in] the program January of this year. I thought it was time to stop being so possessive of my time and start sharing some of it, along with some insight, with an individual that needed a friend and a female figure in her life. From a child's perspective, growing up can be really hard. Kids can be harsh. I experienced the harshness when I was growing up and still do to this day. What they might not realize is that it is going to get harder; I want to make it somewhat of a friendlier and smoother process by being someone that she can trust and talk to.

What can you tell us about your PAL?

Her name is Peyton; she just turned 10. She is an amazing young lady. She is sweet, smart and very aware of her surroundings. Peyton is full of knowledge on topics I never even explored myself. From birds to flowers, she surprises me most of the time we spend together with the wide range of things she knows. She reads and explores in her spare time, which is a great quality for a 10-year-old to have.

What do you two do together?

We have seen movies, gone to the park to swing, go-carting, miniature golf, video games, Fernbank, Botanical Gardens, and sometimes we will just go to a coffeehouse to play cards and chit-chat.

What have you gained from this?

It is something I like doing. It's spending time with a friend, doing activities I would not normally do. I know that she enjoys our time as well because she has expressed it, which means so much to me! It makes me feel special to know that a person, out of my regular social circle, treasures time with me.

If you are interested in becoming a PAL or learning more about the program, contact Erika Lang at (770) 677-9310 or erikalang@jfcs-atlanta.org.