Kayla Becerril was in search of an internship when she discovered Valerie’s House through the recommendation of a professor at Florida Gulf Coast University.

She started volunteering with Valerie’s House at the beginning of 2022 and has been an incredible addition to the team with her positive attitude and bilingual background.

Seven months later, Kayla continues to be a dedicated volunteer and compassionate friend to so many children at Valerie’s House- Naples.

“Children have always had a special place in my heart, and after learning about the mission of Valerie’s House, I knew this was a place I could develop relationships with the children and help them through their grief,” Kayla said.

Kayla serves as a group facilitator on Wednesday nights at our Naples location and works with younger children aged 5-7.

Her special person who died is her grandfather, who passed in 2016. The two were very close, and the loss impacted her significantly. Kayla said working with the grieving children at Valerie’s House has helped her process her own grief.

“Volunteering has taught me to help others because there are so many adversities and difficulties that a single person can experience,” Kayla said. “Having someone there that cares can completely change the direction their life can go in.”

Kayla Representing Valerie’s House at a Tabling Event

Her favorite part about coming to group night is working with the same kids and gradually seeing them feel more comfortable talking about their emotions with their peers.

If someone were interested in volunteering with Valerie’s House, Kayla said she would tell them to go for it. She cautions that it’s not an easy role, but it’s an extremely rewarding one.

“Volunteering at Valerie’s House was not something I ever saw myself doing,” Kayla said. “Grief is a particularly difficult thing to deal with, but it has been an amazing experience. I realize now how much of a role grief plays in our lives, and being able to help children now is something I’ll cherish.”