Volunteer Spotlight: Claire

Meet Claire. Claire is a junior at Eden Prairie High School and began volunteering at Mission in June of 2024. It can be a lot to juggle school, extra curricular activities, family, friends, and still find time to volunteer. Somehow Claire manages to fit Mission into her schedule. It might have something to do with periodically getting to snuggle sweet kittens like the one she is pictured holding, but she also just loves giving back and making a difference. Claire has volunteered 15 hours at Mission, and we are so thankful for her!

Why is volunteering important to you and, why do you volunteer with Mission Animal Hospital?

I volunteer because I like making a quantifiable difference in my community–whether it’s volunteering in city-sponsored events or leading youth camps in summer, I like knowing that my efforts and contributions matter in some way. I specifically enjoy volunteering at Mission Animal Hospital because of the sense of community within the hospital and because it helps me learn more about how hospitals work. 

What's your favorite volunteer task in the hospital?

I like cleaning the examination rooms because it’s methodical and a somewhat active task. Plus, I get to see some of the patients with their owners in the waiting rooms sometimes.

What do you do when you're not volunteering here?

I’m usually doing something with my violin, whether it’s practicing with it or attending orchestra rehearsals. In my free time, I like drawing on my tablet, listening to music, baking pastries, or playing Balatro. 

Do you have any pets?

No (unfortunately). 

Tell us about a pet that had a big impact on your life.

In third grade, each class had a chance to take some crayfish home as pets. I was lucky enough to take one home, and I took care of it as best I could (which was, in hindsight, not very well at all). Predictably, the crayfish died, and I was inconsolable. That incident taught me a lot about what responsibility means–both in terms of taking care of a living being and how I should prepare to take on bigger responsibilities. 

What's the most memorable moment in your time volunteering with Mission Animal Hospital?

I saw a little dog in surgery at the start of my shift. When I walked past the surgery room again around mid-shift, it had been covered in a translucent white sheet. I didn’t quite understand what had happened at first, but I saw an employee standing with a black bag in front of the cremation freezer and that the grief room was occupied. Even as an outsider to the situation, it made me reconsider some of my priorities as I ended my shift that day.