Melissa Legg

"From Personal Crisis to Community Champion: Melissa Legg's Journey of Healing and Service"‍

In the heart of a community center that collaborates with Orange Sky, Melissa Legg has found a new purpose that transformed her life. Her story is a powerful testament to the healing power of community service and the importance of non-judgmental support.

Melissa's journey to volunteering began in the wake of a personal crisis. "Actually, four months post-suicide attempt," she shares candidly. "So I came here about two months ago when I was ready to look at what I was going to do." What started as a search for a judgment-free environment quickly evolved into a full-time commitment that has given Melissa a new lease on life.

"I was looking for something to do where there's no judgment. I've got a pretty sketchy past," Melissa explains. This need for acceptance led her to the community center, where she found not just a volunteer opportunity, but a new family. "I love it here. I love being with these guys. I love catching up with them, yarning, seeing how they're going. Helping them out where I can."

Melissa's experience highlights the transformative power of community engagement. She describes how building trust with the community she serves has been a gradual but rewarding process. "Very untrusting because they've got a lot of cultural stuff. But once you spend time with them and you show that you're interested and you show that you actually care, they are very opening, welcoming."

The impact of Orange Sky's services, particularly their laundry facilities, is a key focus of Melissa's work. "We'd be lost without it," she emphasizes. "Because, as you say, in the section I work in like we do store a little bit, but some of these guys, they're homeless. They have a blanket and a pillow and sleep in the dirt or in a sleeping bag." The ability to provide clean clothes is more than just a practical service; it's a way of restoring dignity to those who have little else.

Melissa's perspective on the importance of non-judgmental support is shaped by her own experiences. "I've been judged my whole life so the last thing I want to do is judge anyone else," she shares. This attitude forms the cornerstone of her approach to volunteering and has helped her build strong connections within the community.

The collaborative nature of the services provided at the center is another aspect Melissa highlights. From Orange Sky's laundry services to healthcare providers and even visiting hairdressers, the center acts as a hub for various support services. "It's just all those little things that make a difference to the people that don't have access to this," Melissa explains.

Despite the positive impact of their work, Melissa expresses frustration with the lack of government recognition for their services. "I know that because this is run by a church, it's not classified as an essential service by the government. So we don't get government funding," she laments. This challenge underscores the importance of community support and the dedication of volunteers like Melissa.

For Melissa, the concept of friendship that Orange Sky promotes resonates deeply. "Support. Understanding," she says when asked what friendship means to her in this context. "Everybody makes mistakes and you need to be willing to put those in the past and give people a chance and try and help them to do better."

Melissa's story is a powerful reminder of the impact one person can have when they choose to serve others. Her journey from personal crisis to community champion illustrates the healing power of volunteering and the importance of creating non-judgmental spaces where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

As Melissa puts it, "Everyone's treated the same here. When you walk in that gate, you treat us with respect and dignity and we'll treat you the same." This simple yet profound philosophy underscores the transformative power of community service, not just for those being served, but for the volunteers themselves.