We love to see tenants experience health, wellness, and belonging—and then pass it on by giving back to their communities through volunteer work and jobs.
Iesha - Blossom Park, Woodstock
Iesha has been working for three years at The Raw Carrot, a social enterprise that creates meaningful employment for people living with disabilities and mental illness.
According to Iesha, "A typical day for me includes chopping up the vegetables, and cooking and packaging the soup. My favourite thing about working there is getting to make soup every day."
My favourite thing about working there is getting to make soup every day."
Chris - Rudy Hulst Commons, Hamilton
Chris has been volunteering at the Good Shepherd for years now. Three or four days a week, early in the morning, he stocks shelves, unloads bread, takes out garbage and more.
Chris explains that Elizabeth Cronk, a Street Outreach Worker gave him "a hand up, not a hand out…she saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself and introduced me to the Good Shepherd. They have top notch staff. It gives me a purpose to get up and help others. I enjoy going in there and it’s like a million dollars to me. They appreciate me and thank me every time I come."
Chris won the Volunteer Dedication Award in 2021.
It gives me a purpose to get up and help others."
Linda - Woodfield Gate, London
Linda volunteers weekly as a Welcome Desk Volunteer for Innovation Works, a co-working space operated by Pillar Nonprofit Network. This helps out those who use the space and enables Linda to get experience in office work after completing Administrative Clerk training at Pathways Employment Help Centre. She loves being part of a community.
Linda says, "I enjoy the smiles on people’s faces and helping people navigate to where they need to go. I love the green wall, a recent addition to the common space. It’s nice to see people networking and collaborating."
I enjoy the smiles on people’s faces and helping people navigate to where they need to go."
Brandon - Harvey Woods Lofts, Woodstock
Brandon has been volunteering at the Salvation Army Food Bank for one year, making emergency and street bags as well as stocking shelves with donated food items.
He says, "I enjoy supporting people through their time of need and making life a little bit easier for each person who reaches out for help."
I enjoy ... making life a little bit easier for each person who reaches out for help."
