“It was a teachable day. Everyone walked away knowing more. I wondered what it felt like to be in that line and to see your neighbors in that line with you,” reflects Omer. “I know there was some frustration and shame and fear, but I also think there was a sense of comfort. Even though you’re separated, there’s something about knowing you’re not alone in this.”
She holds onto this sense of connection and, even with her work productions slowly getting back underway, continues to find opportunities to volunteer with Hawai‘i Foodbank. In just one year, Omer has worked 60 volunteer shifts, providing more than 300 hours of volunteer service — and she encourages others to give it a try, too.
“I just want people to know that volunteering is for everyone, and the Foodbank does such a great job. I’ve had the fortune to volunteer in all these different avenues, which has made me feel like there is a way for everyone to volunteer that works for them.”
For Omer, each volunteer experience during the pandemic has shed a new, yet familiar, light on the world around her. Like the operas she’s directed, it’s created this collective human event that enables everyone to relate to one another and have more empathy.