The relationships we build today strengthen the community we leave tomorrow.
By Angie Matthiessen, Chief Executive Officer
As children, friendship came naturally. We met classmates on the playground, teammates on the field, and neighbors down the street.
As adults, it's a different story.
Between work, family responsibilities, and busy schedules, finding time to build new relationships can be surprisingly difficult. Many adults—even those surrounded by others every day—quietly admit they wish they felt more connected.
This past weekend reminded me just how valuable those connections are.
My family spent time with dear friends we've known for more than twenty years. We raised our daughters together, celebrating birthdays, milestones, and countless moments that shaped our families. Although life has taken us in different directions and we haven't been together as often in recent years, the friendship remained exactly where we left it.
What struck me most was watching our daughters—once toddlers playing side by side—now becoming remarkable young women, finding their own voices and learning how to navigate the world with confidence and compassion.
It reminded me that the relationships we invest in today often shape far more than our own lives. They influence the next generation, modeling what it means to encourage one another, serve alongside one another, and remain connected through life's changing seasons.
As National Friendship Day approaches on August 2, it's a timely reminder that meaningful friendships don't always begin where we expect. Sometimes, they begin while serving others.
At United Way Charlotte County, we see it happen every day.
People often volunteer because they want to make a difference in someone else's life. What many don't expect is the impact volunteering has on their own lives. Serving alongside people with a shared purpose creates friendships that often last long after the project ends.
Volunteering brings people together across generations, experiences, and backgrounds, united by one simple goal: helping their community.
When people work side by side, something special happens. Conversations flow naturally. Strangers become teammates. Teammates become friends. Those friendships become the fabric that strengthens neighborhoods, organizations, and ultimately our community.
One of those opportunities is just around the corner.
On August 7 and 8, volunteers will come together for Women United's annual Fashionista Friday, a unique event that transforms donated clothing into a boutique-style shopping experience for women in the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) community. Guests are welcomed into an uplifting environment where they can shop with dignity, confidence, and the support of caring volunteers.
While our guests leave with clothing, they also leave feeling encouraged, valued, and seen. Volunteers often leave just as changed, knowing they made a difference while forming connections with others who share a heart for serving.
We're still looking for volunteers to help make this year's Fashionista Friday a success. Whether you're organizing clothing, welcoming guests, assisting shoppers, or simply offering a smile and a kind word, you'll be helping create an experience that reminds every woman she matters.
This National Friendship Day, consider saying yes to something new. Invite a friend to volunteer with you—or come on your own. You may arrive hoping to make a difference in someone else's life, but you just might discover something unexpected: a new friendship, a deeper sense of belonging, and the opportunity to help build the kind of community where everyone can thrive.
Because strong communities aren't built simply through programs or services. They're built through relationships. Every act of kindness, every conversation, and every new friendship helps create the kind of community where everyone can thrive.
To learn more about volunteering for Fashionista Friday or other opportunities throughout the year, visit www.unitedwayccfl.org/findingfriendship.
Together, we're building a stronger community—one relationship, one act of kindness, and one friendship at a time.
For more information about United Way Charlotte County's mission, Mobilizing the power of our community so all can thrive, please contact Angie Matthiessen, Chief Executive Officer, at director@unitedwayccfl.org.