By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – A local program that offers sex abuse counseling and treatment has one volunteer that stands out among all the rest.
Nathan Parks of Normal is the only male volunteer at the YWCA of McLean County Stepping Stones program. He recalled his first night volunteering when he helped an abuse victim feel safe.
“How it flipped around from me being terrified to knowing that what I’m experiencing is nothing compared to this person,” Parks said. “I definitely feel like it was something I wanted to do. It is really important.”
The United Way presented its annual Phil Covey Memorial Award of Excellence at its annual campaign kickoff. The award honors the top volunteer or non-profit in the community. It is named in honor of Phil Covey, son of Harold Covey who is a longtime supporter of United Way.
Parks said he feels he has a knack for comforting people.
“People come to talk to me a lot about the issues they are having,” Parks said. “I feel I was really prepared in life from a young age taking care of someone who had been abused extremely badly and that kind of woke me up to the world.”
Parks has been a Stepping Stones volunteer for two years and added he would like to see others men get involved.
“It’s something men have to care about more,” Parks said. “I couldn’t do nothing anymore.”
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
