The end of the year is commonly called “The Season of Giving,” but for many Matadors, that spirit is something they practice all year long through volunteer work, both on and off campus. At this time of year, we highlight the students who regularly donate their time and energy to efforts and causes they care about.
Meet Lira Flores, Sociology Major, Strength United Volunteer
Lira Flores, 23, plans to become a social worker. That’s what prompted her to pursue volunteer work with CSUN’s Strength United, a nonprofit that works to help individuals affected by violence and trauma, with a focus on sexual assault, domestic abuse and child maltreatment. Her six-hour shifts as a sexual assault advocate are split between two tasks: one is staffing the organization’s 24/7 crisis intervention hotline. The other is serving on the accompaniment shift, where she sits side-by-side with an assault survivor to support them through their forensic exam and interview, as evidence is collected for law enforcement. Flores explained that these exams take place at Strength United’s Family Justice Center, which is very different than a typical busy hospital setting.
“It’s a really calm environment,” said Flores. “We’re focused on the survivor; the forensic examination rooms are very comfortable and everyone’s just there for that person.”
The Antelope Valley native began studying sociology, in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences in 2023, after attending Antelope Valley College. She moved to Northridge earlier this year. Her career plans include working with survivors of gender-based violence. Flores said her volunteer work helps her to understand the perspective of those who have faced traumatic experiences.
“The thing about working with people directly is that you can see the difference that you’re making,” she explained. “At the end of these shifts, people are so incredibly grateful to me for just being there to walk them through the process.”
In addition to her full-time coursework and her volunteer shifts, Flores also works part-time on campus at the CSUN Food Pantry as the lead pop-up pantry student assistant, where she manages the biweekly “farmer’s market” distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables to pantry visitors. She said her time there has shown her the power of offering resources.
“I’ve had professors in the past that have put resources on campus in their syllabus,” said Flores. “It is so important, because you never know about a food insecurity or a housing insecurity. You can’t tell if someone’s going through that.”
Flores is looking forward to pursuing a Master of Social Work degree and possibly working in a hospital setting. In the meantime, she said she will keep volunteering at Strength United, helping survivors of violence, as long as she can.
“It’s super rewarding seeing the difference I’m making,” she said.
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