During the day, Liam Campbell works as a guidance counselor in the Lee County school system. At night, he volunteers his time as a Valerie’s House group facilitator.

Liam has been a devoted Fort Myers volunteer for the past two years and works with the “Sea Turtles” and “Manatees” groups that range between ages 6-13.

He first discovered Valerie’s House through a coworker and has been referring families in need ever since.

“I have made several referrals to families and would ask them about their experiences,” Liam said. “The feedback was overwhelmingly positive both from the guardians and students. Then, I heard Valerie’s House was looking for volunteers, and I wanted to help out with a good cause.”

Liam’s favorite part of group night is serving dinner to families. He said it gives a very communal feeling to the night and helps families relax before group.

He also said he’s learned valuable lessons from working with the children.

“Professionally, I’ve gained a lot of hands-on experience and have been able to use counseling strategies that I learned at Valerie’s House in my job as a school counselor,” Liam said. “Personally, I’ve learned not all scars are visible.”

To encourage new volunteers, Liam would tell them that working with Valerie’s House is a rewarding experience. It provides the volunteer with a sense of accomplishment and allows them to leave a positive mark on the community.

“There aren’t many free child grief centers in the world, which is crazy considering the loss of a family member is often the first trauma many children experience,” Liam said. “As someone who works in the mental health field, I cannot begin to express how fortunate we are to have a place like Valerie’s House.”