‘A lot of times people just need an ear to let out some frustration or pick my brain for ideas or ask questions,’ says long-time volunteer
This is the 23rd in a series of columns written by staff from The Lighthouse to help the community better understand people experiencing homelessness and those who support them. This column appears every other Monday.
They say “it takes a village.”
With the numerous services that The Lighthouse offers, it truly takes a village to operate the organization. We are grateful to have partners within our community — other local service providers, donors who contribute financially and with tangible items, churches, businesses, volunteers and more — who work with us and serve people experiencing homelessness in our community. We could not do it without them.
There are more than 145 volunteers who are involved with The Lighthouse, each with their own unique skill set. Volunteers contribute in areas like the kitchen, the emergency shelter, cleaning, maintenance, event planning, the welcome desk, supportive housing, and the warming centre, just to name a few.
If The Lighthouse is offering a service, volunteers are likely involved. Their willingness to generously give their time and talents allows us to serve people with excellence.
Chris is one example from The Lighthouse’s incredible volunteer team who supports participants by spending time connecting with them. In his volunteer role, Chris focuses on participant engagement. Chris comes to The Lighthouse one morning every other week for about three hours. During that time, he talks to people who are staying in the emergency shelter.
“It’s a lot of just being there for people while they navigate the system,” he says. “I help them with resources, like looking things up on the internet and talking to organizations like Home and Community Care Support Services with them. A lot of times people just need an ear to let out some frustration or pick my brain for ideas or ask questions. People know me, so they’ll talk to me.”
Chris works as a paramedic in Muskoka. He’s committed to being there for people when they need support.
“When your job is helping people, sometimes it just feels like a job,” he says. “It becomes normal. I want to do something to keep my moral compass and remind me why I do it, and I feel that volunteering is a way to set a good example for my three kids.”
When you volunteer your time, you do it to help people and you get something out of it too. “It’s rewarding – knowing that I’m helping. It’s a great organization too. People are welcoming and everyone is helpful if you have any questions.”
Chris has been volunteering at The Lighthouse for over seven years, since 2017. He took a bit of a break during the COVID-19 pandemic, but said he missed it.
When Chris first started volunteering at 48 Peter St, he helped out in the kitchen as well as with sweeping, emptying garbage, or whatever else needed to be done. He sees the difference between The Lighthouse’s former facility and the current location on Queen St E.
“The Lighthouse is more structured now, which is good for community members. The participants are often educating me on programs. Of course you can’t make everyone happy, but in general they like it and find it beneficial,” said Chris.
Although Chris shared that he first found The Lighthouse through a Google search, he finds that The Lighthouse is well known in the community.
“I can’t believe how much this place is needed in the community. Even with the lunch program, seeing families and people who are housed but struggling come to pick up a bagged lunch is eye-opening.”
As a paramedic, Chris sees the incredible value of The Lighthouse’s medical clinic where participants can receive care.
“Having the doctors and nurse practitioners here is huge for people who are staying at The Lighthouse. It keeps people out of the emergency room. There are a lot of people without a family doctor out there right now,” Chris explained.
He also indicated that he has learned a lot about homelessness since he started volunteering.
“I’ve learned about shelter intakes, the databases like HIFIS (Homeless Individuals and Families Information System) and the systems. It’s also been great to be able to pass on information about The Lighthouse’s outreach program to people that I work with in my job.”
Chris recognizes the importance of connecting with people to offer encouragement and a listening ear. Each person we serve has a unique story as well as unique challenges and strengths.
At The Lighthouse, we are so thankful for people like Chris who provide support and offer connection for participants. Our community helps to ensure that The Lighthouse’s services are robust and encompass the various areas in which people need support.
If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering with The Lighthouse, contact Donna Godfrey, Volunteer Supervisor, at donna@orillialighthouse.ca https://orillialighthouse.ca/volunteer/