Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation

I'm Anna Silverman, Executive Director of Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation. Welcome to my blog!

Friday, 29 May 2015

The lessons of volunteering

Today, six retired Ottawa Catholic School Board principals had a very early start to their day. They came to the soup kitchen and started to peel potatoes and carrots for a stew we’re going to serve at lunch. It’s actually a bigger group of principals but they rotate their visits, coming in several times a year to not only help make the food, but serve it as well.

Two things about their visit stayed with me today. One principal noted that for years she and her students had donated to Shepherds. It might have been canned goods, maybe some clothes for the clothing program. But she thought it was important to donate her time so that she could see the other side, to see what happens with the donation.

The second thing she said was that you never know who you might be serving. It might be a former student from 10 years ago who has since fallen on hard times. Think about that. Homeless people or people who need a meal are you and me. They are people who have fallen on hard times, who are vulnerable, who need our help.

When I heard there was a group of retired principals preparing lunch today, I went downstairs to thank them. It always makes my day better when I can meet the people who give so freely of their times. It's uplifting. But more importantly, it makes a better day for our clients who come in and depend on us for a healthy meal.

If you would like to volunteer with Shepherds of Good Hope, you can visit our volunteer page on our website or contact our Volunteer Services Team at 613-789-8210, ext. 239.  



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