Photo By Michael Alexander

Nine days after a fierce tornado swept through four North Georgia counties on April 9, 1998, Holy Thursday, All Saints Church in Dunwoody was coordinating a relief effort for some of its parishioners. Of the more than 400 volunteers that came together at the church that day, the youngest was 4-year-old Mattie Gereben. She was wearing kiddie work gloves, had a rake and small shovel, and was pushing a toddler-sized green and yellow wheelbarrow.

Four-year-old Mattie Gereben was one of the more than 400 volunteers that came together in a relief effort for All Saints Church parishioners who incurred damage as a result of the April 9, 1998 tornado that swept through the community. Photo By Michael Alexander

In the 15 years since I photographed her, Gereben has grown up to be the young lady her parents, Geza and Beth, hoped she would turn out to be. The image of her young volunteer experience is on display at her parents’ home, so it allows her to revisit the moment frequently. She once asked her father why he had brought her along that day.

“He took me because he wanted me to start living my faith. He was teaching me that when people are in need of help, we go help them,” said Gereben.

In the summer of 2002 her family started attending St. Brigid Church, Johns Creek. The family became involved in the parish’s Mustard Seed Ministries and often provided donations.

Gereben, a 2012 graduate of St. Pius X High School, Atlanta, continued to serve during her high school years, volunteering at places like the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception’s Saturday morning feed-the-hungry program, St. Francis Table.

In addition to serving, Gereben took up sports. She started playing competitive soccer as a third-grader. At St. Pius she played soccer during her freshman, sophomore and junior years. She was also on the swimming team all four years.

Gereben had a life-changing experience during her freshman year of high school. At the conclusion of the soccer season she was experiencing some pain in her left leg. After a biopsy it was discovered that she had a benign tumor in the femur of her left leg. Initially it was thought to be cancerous. After a surgical procedure to remove the tumor at Emory University Hospital Midtown (formerly Crawford Long Hospital), Gereben was cleared to resume sports in her sophomore year.

Gereben received an academic scholarship to attend Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Ala., and today she is a rising sophomore. Gereben, 19, said she enjoyed her freshman year. She believes that she has matured as a young woman, and in the absence of her parents, she took more responsibility for herself.

“I learned who I was and who I wanted to be,” said Gereben. She said making the Dean’s List during the spring semester was one of her freshman year highlights. Gereben also played defensive midfielder on the soccer team that went 12-6 -1 last season.

She returns to school next month, where she plans to study psychology and minor in biology, with the intent of becoming a physical therapist. Gereben’s first year at college also provided opportunities for her to serve once again. The soccer team helped wash the feet and distribute shoes to those in the community. She also volunteered at an urban community garden in Birmingham’s West End neighborhood.

The work gloves no longer fit and the wheelbarrow is too small to push, but the lessons of service and helping those in need remain a part of her young adult life.