Twenty twenty-three marks LifeTRAVELED’s second volunteer experience with Baby DJ, an Orlando program providing holiday gifts to families in need. This year, exchange visitors from Argentina, India, Peru, and Philippines volunteered with us to spread holiday magic. The volunteer experience connects our exchange visitors with their community, with meaningful person-to-person interactions, a core purpose of the BridgeUSA program. The participants expressed with us that after the event, they felt closer to their host community through this act of service. Our group met the founder of the event, “Johnny Magic” a local radio host and closely interacted with other volunteers and receiving families, introducing themselves and their cultural exchange programs.

One of our participants shared:

Hi! I am Jazmin Abdala a J1 student from Tucuman,, Argentina. I had the opportunity to participate in the Baby DJ Volunteering and I glad that I have accepted. It was a great and soulful experience, where you not just helps the people with the presents for their children, you also talk to them to make them know that they are not alone. 

A lot of people was really sad at first but when they started watching the presents and feeling a little of hope and smile started appearing in their faces; and that's the thing... try to make someone for a little bit to forgets about their problems because it's Christmas time and everybody deserves to be happy.

I remember a lady who told me that the present for her was the happiness from their children and that's why she was very thankful with me and all the Baby DJ event. She said that it has no price how much Baby DJ helps people. So after the day I had a gratitude feeling knowing that some child is going to be really happy at christmas and also their parents.

Ansh from India shared that his most positive and happy moment from December was “volunteer[ing] for helping people pick toys for their kids on Christmas.”

We look forward to next year’s engagement with Baby DJ!