This April 2026, We Honor our Volunteers & Introduce our Community Engagement Manager – Camille Watwood
ATLANTA – April 17, 2026 –
Volunteer Appreciation Week is often framed as a moment to say thank you. At Our House, it’s also a moment to highlight the people who choose to show up and the work happening behind the scenes to transform generosity into something more lasting.
This year, it also presents the perfect opportunity to formally introduce Camille Watwood, Our House’s new Community Engagement Manager.
Camille joined the organization in October 2025, bringing more than a decade of nonprofit experience and a perspective shaped by years of working directly with volunteers. Consistent with Our House’s intentional, holistic approach, she focuses on how individuals, communities, and corporations can connect in ways that more fully support Atlanta families.
In a recent conversation, Camille shared her expansive vision for the role, the often unseen impact of volunteers, and the kinds of partnerships she believes can transform what’s possible for families at Our House.
“I’m always looking for opportunities to take a volunteer and expand that connection,” Camille says. “How can their workplace, their faith group, or their neighborhood get involved in a bigger way?”
From there, her thinking quickly expands beyond the individual.
“It’s also looking at corporations and saying, you already have corporate social responsibility or employee engagement goals you’re trying to meet. Let us be a source for that.”
In many cases, organizations begin their involvement at one entry point, with opportunities to deepen that engagement over time.
“A company might send a team to volunteer, but they haven’t thought about what it could look like to build something more sustained,” she explains. “That could be a matching campaign, a donation drive, or a larger initiative that involves the whole organization.”
For Camille, the work is not defined by a single interaction, but by what happens next.
“Whether I’m talking to volunteers, community partners, or corporations, I’m thinking about how to move them along a continuum,” she says. “From volunteering to investing more deeply in what Our House is doing, and finding those larger touchpoints that benefit everyone involved.”
That continuum becomes clearer when you look at the role volunteers play inside the organization.
“I’ve worked with volunteers for more than ten years,” Camille says. “And honestly, they’re some of the best people you’ll ever meet. People who give their time freely. They show up with open hearts.”
That perspective shapes how she talks about their impact.
“Volunteers don’t always see the full scope of what they provide,” she says. “Everything trickles down, whether it’s the cost savings from a task they supported or the meal they provided. It can seem small, but it does so much. It provides relief. It provides dignity to someone who really needed that care in that moment.”
“And it’s not just physical. It’s mental, emotional, and sometimes even spiritual. To see someone show up for you and serve you a meal can be a change in your day.”
It is a simple act, but in a moment of uncertainty or hardship, it carries weight.
There is also a measurable impact. The current national estimate values a volunteer hour at $34.79, though that figure only captures part of the story.
Behind the scenes, those moments create space. When volunteers organize donations, prepare meals, or support day-to-day operations, staff can focus on work that moves families forward.
“That time allows us to focus on building partnerships, connecting with donors, and expanding what we can offer,” Camille explains.
Every action, no matter how small it may seem, ripples outward across the organization and into the lives of the families it serves.
That ripple effect extends across the entire organization.
One of Camille’s early observations has been how often people underestimate the scope of Our House’s work.
“A lot of people think we are just a women and children’s shelter,” she says. “And that isn’t even accurate. Our shelter houses 18 families, with each family typically ranging from two to seven people. We don’t believe in separating families, so our shelter houses full families, including both men and women, and kids ages 5 and under.”
Beyond the shelter, Our House programs span multiple areas that support long-term stability for families. That includes a nationally accredited early childhood education program, a comprehensive health clinic serving local families without insurance, and workforce development initiatives such as the Child Development Associate certification program.
“I wish more people knew how much is happening here,” Camille says. “There’s so much that goes into helping families move forward and I’m continuously inspired by the level of dedication our entire staff has to our mission.”
That broader understanding shapes how Camille thinks about engagement.
Part of her role involves identifying ways people can contribute that feel both accessible and meaningful.
Some volunteers prepare and serve meals for families living in the shelter. Others organize donations or help manage essential supplies. On weekends, volunteers lead activities like Bingo, movie nights, game nights, or craft sessions, creating space for families to spend time together.
There are also opportunities for those with specific experience. Individuals interested in early childhood education can spend time in the classroom supporting teachers and gaining hands-on exposure. Others who have spent years in education and find themselves missing the classroom often return through volunteering. Similarly, people with healthcare backgrounds or students considering careers in this area, can volunteer in our clinic.
“There are so many ways people can show up,” Camille says. “And every single one of those moments matters more than they realize.”
That same thinking carries into how she approaches community and corporate partnerships.
“We’ve seen the impact strong corporate partnerships can have, and I’m excited to build on that with even more organizations interested in engaging in consistent, meaningful ways,” she says.
She describes it in practical terms. Maybe it’s a company committing to providing 25 boxes of diapers each month, or another stepping in to supply formula. It could be as simple as teams organizing meals during the week to help offset rising food costs.
“We are always looking for more weeknight meal sponsors.”
But the opportunity does not stop there.
“The most successful partnerships are the ones where companies realize they’re getting just as much out of it as they’re giving,” Camille says. “You see it in employee engagement, retention, even in how people feel about where they work. And when you layer that with the impact on families and the community, the return compounds.”
She also points to what those partnerships could become.
“What if we partnered with the aquarium so families could have regular visits there,” she says. “Or had the zoo come here and do an animal exhibit and teach the kids about reptiles.”
Experiences like that introduce children to new environments, spark curiosity, and create moments of joy during a difficult chapter.
“That’s the kind of community engagement I want to build,” she says. “Something that creates real connection.”
These efforts reflect a larger shift in how Camille frames the work.
“I want people to see Our House as an opportunity,” she says. “A true opportunity to invest in the future of Atlanta’s children and families.”
For volunteers and partners, that investment shows up in real, tangible ways. It helps provide meals for families, keeps essential supplies like diapers and hygiene items organized, supports classrooms where children are learning and growing, and frees up staff to focus on connecting families to housing, healthcare, and job opportunities.
Over time, that support meets immediate needs, while also creating stability, expanding opportunity, and reshaping what a future can look like for a family. And for the families of Our House, it often begins with the simple decision to show up.
This Volunteer Appreciation Week, Our House recognizes every volunteer who has contributed time, energy, and care to support families on our campus.
Their impact is far greater than they may ever see.
If you’ve been looking for a meaningful way to get involved, there are opportunities to do just that. Whether through volunteering, organizing a group experience, or exploring a corporate partnership, there are many ways to support families at Our House.
To learn more or start a conversation, connect with Camille Watwood to explore how you, your organization, or your team can get involved.
Because when people choose to show up, the impact reaches further than they may ever realize.
About Our House, Inc.
Our House is a nonprofit organization committed to helping Atlanta families with lower incomes, or those experiencing or at-risk for homelessness, recover from hardship and get on the path towards self-sufficiency. One of the only organizations of its kind in the metro Atlanta area, the agency’s transformative programming offers shelter, childcare, healthcare, education, and career development to promote equity for all. For more information, visit www.ourhousega.org.
