Bob is a former educator who volunteers at Five Counties Children’s Centre because he loves helping kids. For five years, he’s given his time and talent to support our work and — even in retirement — still has a lesson to share.
“Volunteering is rewarding,” Bob says. “I know a lot of people who volunteer, and they get as much fun out of it as they give. Seeing smiling faces when you volunteer makes you feel good to know that you’re helping.”
Bob’s tireless efforts to support Five Counties make us smile too and that’s appropriate during National Volunteer Week (April 16-22).
It’s the time we celebrate the contributions made by millions of Canadians, who, according to Statistics Canada, contributed five billion volunteer hours in 2018 alone.
While COVID-19 severely curtailed volunteering, Five Counties is fortunate to again have dozens of volunteers supporting our clinical services and fundraising efforts. On the fundraising side over the past year, our volunteers contributed 710 hours — equal to working every minute for an entire month!
For Pam, volunteering at Five Counties is personal, as she was the very first child that Five Counties served at its inception in 1974.
“Five Counties was the outlet for me to gain confidence and get used to socializing with other children my own age,” Pam says. “It helped me so much when I became an adult.”
A childhood connection is part of the reason why Jackie is a donor, volunteer, and fundraiser for Five Counties. As a young child, she used leg braces to help with mobility issues.
“The work that Five Counties does is incredibly important and valuable to help the children they serve,” Jackie notes. “With the help of the various programs and services offered… children are able to live enriched, full lives.”
For Judy, the “seed of interest” to volunteer at Five Counties was planted in seeing her niece receive care and support in the early 1990s from a Toronto-based children’s treatment centre.
“The ordeal of watching my niece struggle and face each day of pain and suffering with bravery and determination was life-changing,” Judy recalls. “I have seen many sick children in my life and they have a certain bravery that is unique to them. It’s as if they were born with an extra dose of courage.”
It’s inspiring to work with Bob, Pam, Jackie, Judy and others who volunteer for many different reasons.
Volunteers tend to downplay their role and work, but what they do is significant — as demonstrated at the Winterfest event that Five Counties organized in February.
While each volunteer contributed three or four hours apiece at the event, the sum total of their efforts was providing enjoyment to hundreds of families, raising awareness about Five Counties programs and services, and netting more than $30,000 to support our work.
Canadian curler Sherry Anderson was right on target in noting, “Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.”
At Five Counties, we greatly value our volunteers who are worth their weight in gold!
