Volunteer Appreciation: Suzi Barstow, Social Media Storyteller

Meet one of the newest additions to our volunteer team, Suzi Barstow! We feel so fortunate to have added Suzi to our social media team recently. She came to us with years of social media management experience and a passion to serve. Here’s our short Q and A:

How did you first hear about Hope Alive!?
I first learned about Hope Alive! many years ago when our church, Centerpoint Community Church in Roseville, CA, began partnering with Children of Hope and Catharine Coon, ministering in Uganda. Children of Hope later became Hope Alive! My husband and I started sponsoring a student in 2005, and, over the years, we have sponsored several more. 



We were fortunate to travel to Uganda with a team from Centerpoint in 2017 and visit HA!'s sites in Kampala and Masaka, where I was privileged to work with some beautiful women and children who were improving their English skills. We also visited some students and their families in their homes, and I was impressed with the kindness and the hospitality we received from everyone we met. This trip to Uganda was a life-changing experience for my husband and me, and we encourage others from our church to not only sponsor students but to join a visiting team if they can.

What do you like about volunteering for HA!?
I have been volunteering with the social media team at HA!, and I love that I can use my creativity and background with social media to further the ministry! I have worked closely with Bianca and Dee Dee, and both have been delightful and encouraging as we together use this digital platform to spread the word and feature students, Saturday Clubs, and special events.

What are your hobbies and interests when you’re not creating awesome social media posts for us?
I play golf, hang out with my family, tutor at a local middle school, play the piano for our church choir, work out at the gym, and watch too many British mysteries on Prime Video! I also love to organize things and am constantly decluttering as I attempt to live a simpler and more minimal lifestyle.