Meet our Volunteers: Amanda

To continue with introductions of Zharity volunteers, meet Amanda!

Name: Amanda Hunsaker

Email: amanda@zharity.ch

I’m an American who moved to Zurich 4 years ago from Pittsburgh. I have 2 sons who are 5 and 13 years old. I work part-time at the University of Zurich doing research on Internet use among older adults.

What personal experiences drew you to charity work?

Both of my parents did volunteer work as I was growing up. Helping my dad staff a table to get people to sign a petition or participating in a charity bike tour was just what we did. In college and beyond I volunteered in reproductive health clinics and low-income schools, as well as in my religious community. It was all with a hope of creating a positive experience for someone else, but I was definitely gaining a lot from these experiences, too. For me, it meant I was learning about different careers and creating special connections with others. 

How did you get involved in Zharity?

After moving to Zurich, I was not working and knew that I wanted to become involved in some kind of volunteer projects. I had just completed a doctorate in Social Work before leaving the U.S., and so a charitable focus was a good fit for my own interests, too. Now I had available time but was trying to be thoughtful about how to spend it. I also kept on running in to Hanneke Verbiest. Each time we met I got to hear more about Zharity and the incredible women organizing it. I went to a Zharity planning meeting and was hooked.  

What projects are you working on right now? 

I help with the Zharity Collections Team and currently we’re organizing a collection for HPF Winterthur, an early childhood development program for families raising children with learning disabilities. HPF sends us “wish lists” from families for clothes, toys and other items that would make a special difference for their children. We’ll hold the next collection from Feburary 24-28 and welcome donations!