AS the fervour and festivities around the holiday season intensify lifelong volunteer Danielle Anderson is urging Jamaicans to consider the less fortunate and add a meaningful contribution to the Christmas list of things to do this year.

“I’m not talking necessarily about money or expensive gifts. We all have something that is often worth more than money, and that is our time,” asserted Anderson, who has been balancing a corporate job with volunteer work for years.

Recently promoted to branch supervisor at Access Financial Services, the mother of one manages a full schedule. With the responsibility of driving sales, managing the performance of six direct reports, and inspiring her team to deliver against ambitious targets, Anderson says there are sometimes not enough hours in the day.

“I have a five-year-old, and between him and the demands of the job, I am super busy. But thankfully I have a job that allows me to help people. I’ve been at Access Financial for 10 years, came fresh out of university.

“When I joined I was assigned as a business loans officer, and for many of our customers these loans help to sustain their livelihoods. That’s how they earn so that they can do everyday things, like feed their families. Sometimes people just need a little help, and through Access I get to do that,” Anderson explained.

Beyond the scope of her substantive role, Anderson never misses an opportunity to volunteer with her work family on outreach activities. Over the years she has participated in almost every Labour Day, Christmas treat, and other corporate social responsibility initiative that Access Financial has executed.

Reflecting on meaningful missions over the years, Anderson says the one that resonates the most with her was the Labour Day visit to the Sunbeam Boys Home in St Catherine in May this year.

“I met a seven-year-old resident of the home who was such a sweetheart. Besides his visible scars, it was obvious that he had been through serious hardship. Based on what the home’s director shared, the young boy had been abused by his dad. You hear the stories, but nothing prepares you for that kind of reality check. Nothing prepares you for that kind of interaction,” said Anderson.

In addition to supporting work-related outreach activities, Anderson is a volunteer with the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), serving on the hospitality team for nearly every track meet staged by the organisation.

“I started volunteering with the JAAA in high school. As a matter of fact, from I was in school, mommy used to take me with her when she went to do Labour Day projects and other outreach programmes with her company. So I guess I got this from my mom.

“Despite being so young and giving time to worthy causes, you could probably say that I grew up kinda sheltered, but leaving school and coming into the working world, I’ve had the chance to see what people go through to really make ends meet,” said Anderson.

The Queens High School and The University of the West Indies alumnus is now looking to take on a new role in a mentorship programme at her church, where she has also volunteered from time to time.

So far this season Anderson has volunteered with the Access Financial team to bring some holiday cheer to the students and teachers at the Josephine Glasspole Basic School in East Kingston.

“It’s such a joy to see the smiles on the children’s faces. It’s important to show the next generation that you don’t have to know someone to give back. I’m teaching my son, just like my mother taught me, to serve and contribute to his community. Christmas is a great time to demonstrate that,” declared Anderson.