Volunteer Highlight — Allyson Hopperstad
Meet Allyson Hopperstad
BIO Girls Volunteer in Thief River Falls, ND
We’re excited to spotlight Allyson Hopperstad, a dedicated BIO Girls volunteer who brings heart, energy, and authenticity to the Thief River Falls site. Just finishing her fourth impactful season, Allyson continues to be a steady, positive force in the lives of the girls she mentors — offering encouragement, compassion, and a listening ear each week.
For Allyson, volunteering with BIO Girls is more than just giving back. Her personal values of kindness, growth, and empowerment align perfectly with the mission of BIO Girls, making her presence at the program both powerful and deeply felt.
“I believe every girl deserves to see her own potential and strength. In a smaller community like Thief River Falls, it's especially important that our girls know they can achieve anything. I love watching our junior mentors find their confidence and leadership abilities through working with younger girls. I can’t wait to see the next generation of strong female leaders in our community.”
Favorite Mantra?
“You can do hard things. I love the lessons about goal-setting because I see how transformative it is when girls learn to dream big and create actionable plans. Running at 5K as a 2-6 graders proves to them they can do hard things”
“My favorite life mantra is 'You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.' Many of our girls don't realize their own capabilities until someone believes in them first. I see this play out in the mentor model provided in BIO Girls.”
Allyson shares that volunteering with BIO Girls has given her a stronger connection to her community. The experience has opened her eyes to the incredible strength of her community.
“As someone who grew up in a small town, I understand both the unique challenges and incredible opportunities our girls face. I want them to know they don't have to leave home to make a big impact. Leading our site has shown me the incredible strength of our Thief River Falls community. The support from local businesses, families, and other volunteers makes our program truly special. We know our community believes in each girl who walks through our program and trusts the adults and young adults who help make it all possible.”
Impactful Story?
“One of our participants was incredibly shy when she started the program. By the end, she was confidently dancing in a skit at our last session and even inspired her younger sister to join us next year. I also have witnessed girls open up about big life events or losses that will have a lifelong impact on them. Knowing they feel safe at BIO girls to share those experiences is the community we are trying to create each week. Being a part of these experiences reminds me why this work matters.”
Thank you, Allyson, for showing up and leading with love. Your presence in Thief River Falls is making a lasting difference — and we are so grateful for your commitment to building up the next generation of confident, compassionate girls.
thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
How can I support?
We get the volunteer role isn’t for everyone!
For just $12 a month you can support one BIO Girl’s 12-week journey through our program.
Together, we can ensure all girls have access to BIO Girls regardless of socioeconomic status.
