“I don’t know much about costuming…”

When you see the costumes on stage at Shine, you might think about the sewing, the fabric choices, or the artistic vision. But at Shine, costumes are about something deeper. They are about the heart of the student who wears them.

This summer, Lindsay volunteered as one of our Assistant Costumers for Shrek Jr at Musical Madness summer camp. At the end of that whirlwind week, when I thanked her for all her hard work, she smiled and said something that stayed with me:

“I had the best time. If you’ll have me, I’d love to be involved with Annie Jr. I don’t know much about costuming, but I have such a heart for mentoring these kids.”

Now, Lindsay is serving as the lead costumer for Annie Jr. And she’s not the first volunteer to step into this kind of role. Over the years, I’ve trained dozens of costumers who started with no theater background at all. What they shared was a heart for students and the willingness to figure it out.

At Shine, I’ve often told our costuming volunteers: we care far more about the heart of the student we are costuming, than the artistic quality of the costume itself.

And here’s the beautiful part: as they serve, they do develop incredible artistic skills. Some of our costumes today are truly professional level. But the real magic is watching how God uses ordinary people, willing hearts, and simple fabric to mentor students and change lives.

I’m so grateful for volunteers like Lindsay, who embody Shine’s mission every day. Because of them (and because of you) our students get to step on stage with confidence, knowing they are seen, valued, and loved.

As we celebrate Shine’s 10-Year Anniversary, we’ve set a goal to raise $85,000 by October 5. Every dollar fuels stories like Lindsay’s…volunteers stepping in with heart, and students being transformed by the community that surrounds them.

👉 Will you join us in celebrating 10 years of Shine by making a gift today? Give now »

With gratitude,
Claire McNeill
Founder & Executive Director, Shine