“I was running a restaurant in Linda Vista and during that time, it came to my attention that the kind of the crew that I had started as a 15-year-old boy and had grown out of now as a 30-year-old man had continued to thrive—there were kids in the neighborhood I grew up in that were following in me and my friends’ footsteps,” King says. 

He invited roughly two dozen neighborhood teens and young adults to the restaurant and, surprisingly, they showed up. It was the start of something bigger, a mentoring journey where kids could look up to him for the right reasons. 

“I was jolted into this work, and it was not because it was what I wanted. I believe there was a higher calling for me,” he says. “As I reflect back on my life, I was really being molded to do this work.”

King formed the nonprofit Paving Great Futures in 2010 to provide meaningful guidance to youth in underserved areas, but took a step back from the organization in 2021 after a series of personal losses. His latest venture is called Walk With Me Impact, a youth mentoring curriculum for nonprofits, youth advocates, and parents, inspired by his experiences. The curriculum has been used across the country, in Canada, and is even being considered for Aboriginal children in Australia. 

“I started creating programs and curriculums, not knowing what a real structure of a program or a curriculum was, but my thought was and still is to this day, What would have been needed to help me not go down those toxic paths,” he says. “A lot of traditional methods have not worked and still don’t, and our kids are still dying. They’re still not being reached properly. I created stuff based on what would have worked for me and, lo and behold, it worked for hundreds of other youths.”

King’s efforts have come full circle. Just as he learned from his own mentor, Neighborhood House Association President and CEO Rudy Johnson, his former mentees are paying it forward and becoming mentors in their own right, including one man who had been emulating King since they were kids. 

“He was one of the kids who was following me when I didn’t know I was being followed as a bad kid,” King says. “As I transitioned and he came into my life, he was going through federal incarceration. I stuck with him throughout his legal journey. He was one of the first people in my program I helped him navigate through that. This young man just enrolled in San Diego State University to become a substance abuse counselor. He’s using his lived experience now to mentor other youth and has totally changed his life.” 

The post The Master Mentor appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

What made you want to become a volunteer at Sharia’s Closet?

LH: I did four years in jail—a lot of people probably aren’t going to say jail is amazing, but this gave me the opportunity that I needed to sit down and think about my life and make the decisions that I’ve needed to be making the whole time. When I got out of jail, I had absolutely nothing. The program that I went into is right next door to Sharia’s Closet. They made me a bag and it was so amazing. Everything fit. It was so great. So, I decided to volunteer. I volunteered for four months. Every single day. I have fun when I come to work. 

KF: I first heard about Sharia’s Closet almost five years ago from someone who I know that works in social services. They informed me that this incredible organization needed volunteers who have a passion for helping the community and enjoy curating capsule wardrobes. These capsule wardrobes are now called Bags of Hope and the goal is to provide an individual with quality garments that can be interchangeably worn and styled. There is a positive relationship between feeling good about your appearance and the hopefulness that drives self-efficacy.  

What do your volunteer duties entail?

KF: My volunteer journey began working in the dedicated men’s room. This is where I became known for meticulously organizing, sizing, labeling, colorizing, and checking garments for quality and modernity. It wasn’t long before I began to thoughtfully compile the capsule wardrobes and let my stylist creativity shine. 

LH: I oversee the donation department and processing center, and when volunteers come in, I’ll assign them tasks to do. I go through all the donations, make sure that they’re suitable and organize everything. I give tours and I make bags for people. 

Can you describe your favorite or most memorable experience while volunteering?

LH: I have a roommate who’s been volunteering for a while, too. It was pouring one day, and we saw somebody walking down the street with just a shirt on and a blanket wrapped around them. So, she went and grabbed this person. He was like, “I’ve been needing help for four days and nobody would help me.” We ended up giving him some clothes and somebody even paid for an Uber for him to get where he was going. Two days later he came back, gave her $100, and donated money to the closet. 

KF: I’m always in awe of the amazing individuals and families who step up to help out. This isn’t exclusive to in-person volunteers, but to those who support the work of the organization through their donations of gently worn clothing, new hygiene supplies, diapers, and monetary support to keep the closet doors open and services free of charge. 

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced?

KF: It breaks my heart when someone only requests one thing, such as a pair of sneakers, but we don’t have any shoes in stock in their size at that moment. 

LH: Keeping the volunteers in line with how you want things done and how to do things the proper way. Another challenge is we’re trying to put ourselves out there so we can get a bigger space. 

Any advice for someone considering volunteering as a way to give back?

LH: It’s amazing if you have the time, just have the heart for it. When you know your heart’s in it is when you do your best. And when you do your best it, it reflects back on us. 

KF: There is never a task that you cannot do, but there are some tasks that you can do exceptionally well that will be of the most benefit to the quality of service that the volunteers of Sharia’s Closet bring to the community—one bag at a time!

The post Volunteer Diaries: Sharia’s Closet appeared first on San Diego Magazine.