Jennifer Jones and husband Jaime of 19 years have been parishioners since 2004 and currently gives in many capacities including serving as vice president of the School Advisory Board. Jen and Jaime have three sons: Carson (8th grade), Caden (4th grade) and Cam (1st grade) all who attend St. Stephen the Martyr.

How did you get started volunteering at St. Stephen the Martyr? 

I started volunteering in our boys’ classrooms by helping in the classroom with reading groups, class parties, and eventually became a Classroom Coordinator. I’ve also helped in the library and with the book fairs; box tops coordinator, and signing up to help at a variety of events such as Martyr Marathon and Spikefest. I’ve been an executive team member for Home and School and currently sit on the Nominations Committee. I’m also in my third year as a member of the School Advisory Board and serving as Vice President this year. Our family also serves as Greeters at Mass and our son Carson is now a Master Server.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering? 

I truly enjoy just being a part of the SSM community! We have an incredibly supportive community. It’s important for us to be involved and show our support to the SSM staff and other volunteers. I also like knowing what happens in the classroom so that we can reiterate those things at home with our boys. Plus, it’s a lot of fun to just be around the students and staff and getting to know them better.

What does St. Stephen the Martyr mean to you?

SSM is a very much like home to us. Jaime and I did not grow up in Omaha and we have felt very welcomed and “at home” here at St. Stephens. Our boys are growing up within this SSM community and we are very thankful for that. It truly does take a village to raise your children and we very grateful that SSM is a significant part of our village. The friendships we have made through the SSM community will be lifelong friendships.

Do you have any advice to other parishioners looking to volunteer? 

Volunteering your time, talent and treasure is very rewarding. Even if it’s only a couple of hours every other month, anything helps. There are many opportunities to help out whether it be in the library, classroom, at mass or at a special event. You simply just have to ask what can be done! Every helping hand is welcome and appreciated! When I was considering applying for a position on the School Advisory Board, a good friend sent me this quote from Mark Twain and I still have it hanging in my office. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”