Twice each week, Covenant House New Jersey volunteer Dave Hamre drives from Morris County to the Newark Youth Engagement Center to teach art, lead study hall and, often, simply listen. What he brings is practical support, consistency and encouragement. What he receives, he says, is something just as meaningful: love.
A husband, father of two and former scientist who spent much of his career living and working in Europe, Dave is also an avid oil painter. His relationship with Covenant House New Jersey began with a donation and deepened after a staff member invited him to visit one of its programs.
“I saw that this wasn’t just a place to spend the night,” Dave says. “It was a place where young people were given support and time to get back on their feet. And I saw that Covenant House uses love as its number one KPI.”
Recently, we spoke with Dave about volunteering, teaching and the impact of showing up for young people.
WHAT CAN ART AND TUTORING GIVE A YOUNG PERSON BEYOND A NEW SKILL?
Confidence. A lot of the young people here have taken so many hits to their confidence. Art class and study hall give them a chance to discover that they can do something they did not think they could do. We have one young woman who was studying for a military vocational aptitude exam. She put so much work in during study hall and was rewarded for it with a great score. Others are studying nursing or even learning cursive. And when they come in with an A or a great score, it’s like your own kid with an A. It’s amazing.
HOW DOES LEARNING TO PAINT MATTER BEYOND THE CANVAS?
People often say, “I can’t paint.” I tell them, “You just haven’t learned how to do it yet.” While I’ve a few young people I really think could be professionals, most are not trying to become professional artists – and that’s not the point. The point is the learning, how to practice and get better, and the confidence that comes with it. When our young people do this, their horizons get broader, even for the folks who aren’t going to be professional artists.
It also teaches patience. Every artist has a vision in their head that they are trying to get on canvas. One young person I was working with was frustrated, because they weren’t getting closer to painting that picture in their head. They were just doing the same thing over and over again, because they hadn’t received instruction on the fundamentals. So, we sat together and went over basic painting techniques. In a few months, their work went from kind of cartoon-like to something really beautiful they were proud of. Now, they’re making the image they want to make.
That kind of experience helps our young people ask “what else can I do?”. It’s an unlock on horizons.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE THINKING ABOUT VOLUNTEERING?
Do it. Genuinely do it. Even if you only do one thing, just do it. Always remember: it’s about the youth. Everyone who volunteers brings skills or abilities that will benefit the young people. But the most important skills you bring are compassion, empathy and listening.
And consistency. If you keep showing up, you build trust with the young people. And when that happens, they don’t just engage in what you’re sharing, they open up to you. Sometimes, they just want to talk to an adult who will really listen, sometimes just vent.
WHAT KEEPS YOU COMING BACK?
I get more out of it than I put into it. The gift is love, because love is not only something you receive; it is something you give, and it is equally powerful in both directions.
When I see them achieve something they didn’t think they could achieve, or open up to something that they didn’t experience before, because of the love that I feel for them, it’s like watching your own kid do something amazing. There can be heartache, too, because sometimes our youth can choose a difficult path. But mostly you get to see them thrive and move on from Covenant House. When you hear staff tell you that young person moved out or got their own place, you just feel this incredible sense of joy in knowing they’re taking the next step in their life.
We live in a world of people. We all need to help one another. We have to be the love in the world for each other.
Be the love.
Interested in sharing your time and talents with young people? Learn more about volunteering with Covenant House New Jersey here.
