Michelle Fioretti is a senior at Florida Gulf Coast University. To meet her graduation requirements for volunteer hours she was searching for a non-profit that would be a good fit for her interests and passions. A friend referred her to Naples Pathways Coalition and the rest is history. Over the last year, she has been engaged in the mission and giving back in any way she can.
Through Michelle’s volunteer training, she was educated on proper helmet fittings and was then able to be a part of giving away and fitting helmets on children and adults in the community. This summer, she volunteered at a community event hosted in partnership with NABOR and at a Lipman Family Farms Back-to-School event where she spread knowledge on the impacts of unsafe driving and on the importance of passing the Hands Free driving laws. You’ll also see her December 1st at the Iron Joe Turkey Ride and Walk helping with event logistics.
Through her volunteer efforts, Michelle has developed a passion for making our streets safe, bikeable, and walkable. “I believe in the Naples Pathway Coalition mission because I think it’s very important for bike riders/walkers to have a safe place to go on their rides and to bring a beautiful environment to the city,” said Michelle. “I enjoy volunteering because it feels great to give back to the community and hopefully make a difference regarding safe driving and protecting children/adults on the roads.”
Michelle encourages other teens to get involved and volunteer at Naples Pathway Coalition. “When I volunteer there is always a huge smile on my face from beginning to end – it’s a great feeling. It is so much fun engaging with the children and parents while fitting them with a helmet. I will always be an advocate for safety, especially when it can save people’s lives.”
Whether you are student looking for volunteer hours like Michelle, a community leader interested in a board position or everything in between, there are many ways to volunteer at Naples Pathways Coalition. Whether you enjoy working rides or walks, tabling community events, working with children or have specialized skills like graphic design or data entry – WE NEED YOU! Be part of the solution for making Collier County a safer place for us all. To get started volunteering, click here.
