For our final Volunteer Month spotlight, we’re highlighting Sam Stover, a young adult volunteer with A Faith That Does Justice (AFTDJ) whose story is a simple but powerful reminder that faith is meant to be lived in action and that getting started can be easier than you think.

Sam didn’t begin volunteering with a big plan. It started with a conversation. A friend from his young adult ministry, who was already involved with AFTDJ, shared what volunteering was like and mentioned there was a need, especially during the colder months. That small, personal invitation was enough to get Sam to show up one Saturday morning.

What kept him coming back was the people.

“It’s really the people—both those we encounter out in the community and the faith and generosity of the other volunteers,” Sam says. As someone newer to both AFTDJ and the Catholic Church, he found inspiration in the steady commitment of others: volunteers who show up week after week to make sandwiches; leaders who organize supplies and guide outreach efforts. “They are incredible examples of how to put one’s faith into action.”

For Sam, volunteering isn’t separate from his faith, it’s a direct expression of it. He points to a passage in scripture, Matthew 25, that continues to stay with him: “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me.”

“As a Catholic, I believe that whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Jesus,” he explains. “Every Saturday I can go is always a blessing, because I get to go out and meet Jesus in his time of need.”

One of Sam’s most meaningful experiences came through a Lenten clothing drive organized by his young adult ministry to support AFTDJ’s Grab and Go program. At first, he was unsure how it would go. Would people show up? Would they donate?

“Before we even officially announced it, we received three huge bags of clothes,” Sam recalls. As the weeks went on, more donations came in, along with people willing to give their time to help. “It was a powerful reminder of the abundance of God’s gifts, and of how much we can accomplish when we come together as a community.”

That sense of community is what Sam says has shaped him the most. In a world that can often feel overwhelming, volunteering has given him a different perspective grounded in hope.

“Seeing their good works in action is a powerful antidote to the doom and gloom we see in the news,” he says.

For other young people who feel called to get involved but aren’t sure where to start, Sam offers simple advice: don’t do it alone.

“It’s easier to dive into something new with a friend,” he says. “Having a companion makes it much less intimidating and it’s a great way to build community.”

Sam’s story is a reminder that putting faith into action doesn’t require perfection or experience. It starts with showing up. And often, it starts with an invitation.