Meet Cedric, the Volunteer Advocate

Tell me a little about yourself….(career, school, background info, etc)

My name is Cedric Bridges. I am an Aviation Maintenance Technician. I am originally from Birmingham, Alabama but I’ve lived in the Indianapolis area for the past 20 years. I attended school at The College of San Mateo where I studied Aeronautical Engineering.

When did you become a volunteer advocate?

I became a volunteer advocate about a year and a half ago. A co-worker introduced me to Child Advocates.

What made you decide to become a volunteer advocate?

I’ve always had a genuine love for children and wanted to find some type of way to get involved. But like so many of us, I asked myself where would I find the time? My schedule was so full and sporadic that I didn’t think I could make time on a consistent basis. So when my co-worker told me about Child Advocates, I thought this may be the opportunity I was looking for. After months of pondering, I decided to become a volunteer.

What is the most rewarding part of being a volunteer advocate?

For me the most rewarding part of being a volunteer is to see a smile on a child’s face. Right now I’m volunteering on a case with two boys’ ages seven and four. I visited them today and when they saw me, they were so excited. They grabbed me by my hand and pulled me into their room to play with them. That was an awesome feeling to know they were happy to see me.

What advice would you give to someone interested in being a volunteer advocate?

My advice to anyone who is thinking of becoming a volunteer is you can make a difference. You may think what you’re doing is not significant but it is! Kids remember a lot of things. Especially the kindness of others. To know someone cares about them and want to make sure they’re okay leaves a lasting impression. You may be the only positive influence or bright spot in there day. And for some of these kids… it means a lot.