Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Gagne.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in the Denver metro area for the majority of my childhood. When I was in my junior year of high school, I decided to move with my sister, her husband, and their toddler triplets to Georgia. After high school, I did not know what I wanted to do with life but I knew I wanted to help people and help make the world a better place. I decided to attend Kennesaw State University and quickly found a passion for their human services program. In 2020, I graduated with my bachelor’s in human services with a concentration in social engagement and advocacy. I had wanted to work with the Hope Box for a while, and once I graduated it finally felt like the right time. I meet with Sarah Koeppen and was hired as the volunteer coordinator for the Hope Box. I have loved getting to serve my community and be a part in helping to make a difference in people’s lives.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like any journey, there of course has been some bumps, but overall I have been very blessed. My journey to Georgia actually came out of the loss of my mother. My mom was diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s when I was young. This is what lead me to move in with my older sister and her family. If that had not happened, I do not know if I would be living in Georgia, working for the Hope Box, or even if I would have met my husband. I have found the there can be new life found on the other side of tragedy. I will always miss my mother but I am grateful for where my journey has brought me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the volunteer coordinator for the Hope Box. This entails communicating to volunteers, getting them plugged into our organizations, training volunteers, and more. I also do some casework for the Hope Box and help in other areas where there is a need. I am most proud of being able to be a part of a team that cares for and is a voice for the most vulnerable. The Hope Box rescues at-risk and abandoned infants in the state of Georgia, we advocate for at-risk infants and mothers, and we train Safe Haven Providers on proper procedure and protocol for the updated Safe Haven Law. The Hope Box played a major role in changing the Safe Haven Law in 2017. The heartbeat of this organization is to help those in need and serve the community. I could not ask for a better mission to be a part of.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was very sweet, playful, and probably too responsible. I have always cared for others deeply. My favorite things to do when I was younger was to be with my friends and my family. I am the youngest of twelve children, and our large family get-togethers were some of my favorite times as a child. I loved being in a room full of people that I loved so much. I also loved playing with my sister and nieces. Outside of family, I enjoyed going to church. Church to me felt like a second home and I had so much fun worshipping and learning about God.
The reason I mentioned that I was too responsible as a kid is because I often burdened myself with responsibilities that weren’t meant for me and with fear of failure, especially with school. I remember having so much anxiety over not being perfect in school and outside of school. There were times as a kid that if I did something wrong, like tell a lie, I would turn myself into my parents because I could not live with the guilt. As a kid, I also felt a need to care for my mom when she started getting sick. I tried not to leave her alone and I tried to help take over some of her roles and responsibilities around the house. I was in late elementary school/early middle school at the time, so needless to say, I was way in over my head.
Contact Info:
- Website: thehopebox.org
