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Angely Balsinde
VolunTEEN - Child care center
Importance of Caring | my journey into volunteering

Angie Balsinde has always thought she would love to have a sibling. While she is still an only child, she has found her calling in caring for younger children as a volunteer at the Columbus Community Hospital Child Care Center.

“I really like it here,” said Balsinde, who is a sophomore at Columbus High School. “I definitely want to stick with child care in my volunteering for now. Everyone is super nice.”

Originally born in Cuba, Balsinde and her family moved to Miami when she was 7. However, they struggled there, and when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they decided to move to Columbus to be close to Balsinde’s godmother. They moved to Miami for a second time about a year ago, but then wound up back in Columbus again.

Balsinde learned about volunteering from a friend who is a VolunTEEN — the hospital’s program that specifically trains teens to help out in its facilities. In June 2025, Balsinde joined the program, which includes more than 70 VolunTEENs.

“I didn’t have anything to do after school, so I decided to give volunteering a try,” she said. “I did it for a week, and I liked it a lot.”

From an early age, Balsinde said, she has always wanted to help other people. “I have a passion for helping others,” she said. “I would consider myself a kind person and also giving. I’ve always helped people around me, especially my parents who I have a lot of love for.”

As a volunteer in the Child Care Center, Balsinde plays with the children and helps the teachers. “If any kid needs help with something like putting their shoes on or getting a toy, I’m there to help,” she said. “I love that every time I go into the classroom, all the kids start surrounding me and bringing me toys. I really like playing with them all and it brings me a lot of joy. I also like that I have met new people, like Ms. Stormee, who is a very kind teacher and always makes me feel welcomed.”

Outside of volunteering and school, Balsinde says she enjoys listening to music — her favorite types are rhythm and blues, jazz and sometimes hip-hop — while going on walks. She also likes going to the lake with her parents.

But one of her favorite pastimes these days is playing with her Yorkie puppy Luna, whom she received as a 15th birthday gift.

“I just woke up one day, and my mom said, ‘Hey, there’s somebody at the house,’” Balsinde said. “Then I felt something, and I turned around, and there was this little tiny dog. She is the cutest puppy ever! I used to have a dog when I was in middle school, but we were staying at an apartment that didn’t allow animals, so I had to give her away. That’s why this gift was so special for me.”

To learn more about volunteer opportunities available at the hospital, visit columbushosp.org.