Volunteer Spotlight: David Walters

David Walters has been a dedicated volunteer at the Family Access Center (FAC) as a supervised visitation monitor for over 15 years. His decision to start volunteering stemmed from a strong belief in the importance of children maintaining positive contact with both parents, especially during challenging times. Understanding that children often find themselves caught in difficult situations, David has committed himself to providing a safe and enjoyable environment where children can visit with their nonresidential parent or relative. Whether playing games, working on craft projects, running outside, or simply talking, his role is to help these children feel valued and connected to their families.

One of David’s early experiences at FAC involved monitoring a parent who had been incarcerated and was working to rebuild a relationship with his young daughter. The parent acknowledged his past mistakes and was determined to turn his life around, realizing that his daughter was now the most important part of his life. Week after week, he showed up for supervised visits, and it was a joyful moment when he shared that he had progressed to unsupervised visits and no longer required the services at FAC.

Volunteering has long been a central part of David’s life. He has served as a summer church camp counselor for many years, where spending a week with high school students has taught him valuable lessons about himself and the challenges young people face. Additionally, he is actively involved in his church's music ministry, singing in the chancel choir and ringing bells in the bell choir. David also lends his time to the Channel One food shelf.

David has one daughter, Laura, who recently earned her Doctoral Degree in Education. He was the primary caregiver for his wife, Teresa, during her three-year battle with terminal cancer, until her passing in May. In his retirement, David enjoys woodworking, creating stained glass projects, and helping maintain property, where he handles repairs, mowing, and cutting trees for firewood.

David encourages others to consider volunteering for causes they are passionate about, stating, "It enhances your own personal life, in addition to helping someone else with their life's problems." His dedication to serving others has had a lasting impact on both the children and families he has worked with, as well as his broader community.