Volunteering to work with youth may be one of the bravest things a person can do. You will spend many hours at awkward times of day trying to connect with teenagers, often not sure if you are succeeding or not. You will fade into the background at so many functions, and miss many adult gatherings. You will become intimately aware of the pain and hurt in student's lives, and be heartbroken at your inability to make it better.
As a youth minister, please hear me say, I couldn't do this job without volunteers. They make so much happen, and offer more strength and support than I can describe. Their sacrifices of time, money, and ideas are the building blocks of this community. I may be the one that gets paid, but they are the ones who drive this whole thing anywhere.
My heart is breaking knowing that one of our strong volunteers, and my dear dear friend Trish will not be here to do any of that. No one will replace her wit, her strength, her encouragement, and her expectations for all of us.

You have served well, you have blessed many, and you are loved more that words can say, Trish.