“I want to thank you volunteers for who you are for us here at Archway, and to our community. What you do provides opportunities for others. Especially during a time of COVID when people are more isolated. I want to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you for how much you care, and how much you provide in order to take care of our community.”
– Rod Santiago, Senior Executive Officer
National Volunteer Week is a time to recognize, celebrate and raise awareness about the important work of volunteers across Canada, and here at Archway.
“The biggest reason for volunteering is the satisfaction I get from watching a client “get it”, said Sieglinde, one of our volunteers at Community Connections. “When they understand an idea, their eyes light up, and they enjoy a self-confident laugh.”
“I also volunteer to pay back the many people who have helped me over the years. And the best part of volunteering for me is learning about other people’s lives, customs and beliefs. The knowledge I gain is interesting and helps me to understand others better,” she added.
This year, Volunteer Week is April 18th-24th and the theme is, “The Value of One, the Power of Many. ” According to Volunteer Benevoles Canada, “the theme reflects on the awe-inspiring acts of kindness by millions of individuals AND the magic that happens when we work together towards a common purpose.”
This past year of COVID-19 hasn’t been an easy one for many of the clients we serve. Had it not been for the more than 1000 volunteers that kept showing up (safely) at Archway, most programs would have had to scale back or close entirely.
“Now that it was a courageous act for many. They were stepping out in fear, but they knew that there was a need, and they needed to fill that need in their communities. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been able to open the doors, so I’m thankful,” said Huw, the Seniors Delivery Supervisor at Archway Food Bank.
Out of the many reasons to volunteer, the core theme that our volunteers noted was the need to see their community thrive. They want to help wherever they can, which is in line with our mission here at Archway.
“I volunteer because it is a way to give back to my community and to feel engaged in community activities. I think every citizen should volunteer in some form or another if they can, even in small ways,” said Vivienne, also a volunteer with Community Connections.
“Volunteering builds character and pride, and it also makes you appreciate what you have. I think volunteering is also a way to take responsibility for what happens in your community,” she added.
We celebrate our volunteers this week, because rain or shine, they keep showing up.
