Amber Godinsky, '23, Finds Compassionate Work in Her Own Backyard
By Lia Kizilbash Gillet
Amber Godinsky, '23, transferred to NIU and found a clear path to a nonprofit career. (Photo: Gracie Scout)
When Amber Godinsky, ’23, left her hometown of Sycamore, Illinois, to attend the University of Arizona, she didn’t know that everything she needed to launch a rewarding nonprofit career was in her own backyard at NIU.
Just one semester into her first year away from home, the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and she moved back.
“Once I returned, I knew that home was where I wanted to be,” Godinsky said. “I missed my community and the culture of the Midwest. Yes, ‘Midwest nice’ is a real thing!”
Growing up in a small town instilled in Godinsky a strong sense of community from a young age. She learned the importance of getting involved and looked for ways to be part of the bigger picture.
"I saw how civil discourse and voluntary engagement shape a thriving community,” she said.
Godinsky transferred to NIU and was excited to learn she could pursue a Bachelor of Arts in nonprofit studies. She credits the Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies (NNGO) and her professors for celebrating her curiosity and encouraging students to explore and strengthen their inner voices. She notes the curriculum’s emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving, which has fueled her success as the Meals on Wheels program manager at the Voluntary Action Center of Northern Illinois.
The Meals on Wheels program delivers in-house prepared meals to homebound elderly and disabled individuals in DeKalb County. Godinsky leads the planning and implementation of all activities related to the program within the agency’s Sycamore service area. She assists neighboring programs to ensure that services are provided in the most efficient, safe, and cost-effective manner while complying with state and local regulations.
“Much of what led me to a career in the nonprofit space I owe to my mom,” Godinsky said. “Growing up, she worked for a nonprofit organization focused on serving economically and socially challenged children by giving them access to the arts. Her work celebrated individual creativity and focused on bringing people together to create something larger than themselves.”
Godinsky said this early introduction to a career in the nonprofit sector influenced her path, and she is grateful to her mom, Glenna, for inspiring her.
“As we have heard before, our parents are our first and most important teachers in life, and that is completely accurate in my case,” she said.
Godinsky began working as the Meals on Wheels program assistant while still a student. Despite working nearly full-time, she fit the Women’s Rugby Club into her busy schedule and held team leadership positions each year she played. She said she was impressed by NIU’s dedication to club sports, providing each team with the necessary resources to succeed.
“The Women’s Rugby Club greatly supported my academic career by awarding me with a scholarship generously provided by the Northern Illinois Rugby Alumni Association,” Godinsky said. “Most valuable to me, though, was having the opportunity to grow the game of rugby and introduce others to the same sport that has impacted my life in such a meaningful way. I am grateful to continue working with the NIU Women’s Rugby Club as a volunteer coach and support the academic and athletic community that helped shape me into who I am today.”
Off the field, Godinsky thanks Dr. Laura Heideman, Dr. Alicia Schatteman, Julie Ann O’Connell, and Stephanie Kummerer for being inspirational women whom she deeply admires.
“Each of these women played a unique role in my academic and personal growth, and their dedication, insight and passion continue to inspire me today,” she said.
NIU offered Godinsky invaluable experiences to hone her skills and enrich her passion for a nonprofit career.
During her junior year, she completed a gerontology internship under Julie Boggess’s supervision. The semester-long project focused on the impact of compassionate touch in care partner relationships and the overall quality of life for those living with dementia. Godinsky first completed an instructional course on compassionate touch developed by AGE-u-cate Training Institute. Afterward, she presented a program on compassionate touch for Dementia Friendly Elgin Area’s Memory Café.
“This experience was especially rewarding to me as I was able to reshape the concept of touch in a way that a majority of the caregivers attending the café had never considered previously,” she said. “Compassionate touch can be a very intimate and healing tool, especially for those living with memory changes or cognitive impairments.”
Godinsky became a Certified Dementia Friend in 2020 to better understand how dementia affects those diagnosed and their families, friends, and care partners and to learn tools for caregivers. Personally touched by the disease, Godinsky's grandma Eillene, affectionately known as “Grandma Garden,” was diagnosed with dementia and lived with Godinsky and her family until her passing. This experience showed Godinsky how a little extra compassion and understanding from others could have made caregiving a more gentle journey.
“Being a Dementia Friend is just one small step towards creating a more inclusive, age-friendly community and reducing the stigma surrounding memory loss,” Godinsky said.
During her senior capstone research presentation at the Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement (CURE), Godinsky shared her project titled, “Engaging Older Adults in Local Nonprofit Nutrition Assistance Programs: Understanding Barriers and Exploring Opportunities for Improved Participation.” She applied the research methods she learned in her courses to her work at Meals on Wheels, connecting her academics to real-world experiences. At the conclusion of her project, Godinsky shared her research outcomes with the Meals on Wheels organization, offering them insights into program impact and highlighting the observed program participation barriers.
Observing the impact of her efforts is Godinsky’s greatest motivation in her role as Meals on Wheels program manager, where she is navigating the rapid changes in community demographics and adapting to the evolving needs that come with those shifts.
“By 2030, all baby boomers in the United States will be 65 years or older, significantly increasing the demand for services tailored to older adults,” Godinsky said. “To meet the nutritional needs of this growing population, I must continuously assess how to scale and adapt our services to meet the increasing demand. I often reflect on my experiences in my NNGO classes when brainstorming solutions for the future.”
Godinsky hopes the valuable lessons she learned—including the importance of seeking input from diverse perspectives, actively listening to the community's needs, and being mindful of the broader impact—will help ensure that her efforts are both effective and responsive.
“Knowing that I have made a difference in someone else’s life is the most rewarding aspect of my career,” she said. “Whether it's a hot meal, a compassionate touch, or a small gesture, our actions can hold deep meaning, and I try to keep this in mind every day. At all times, our actions can have a positive contribution to those around us—why not take advantage of that?”