After arriving in Canada and Red Deer a little more than 9 years ago (February 2009), both my wife Yvonne and I took initiative to connect with the community, as we didn't know anyone. From earlier moves in our home country we learned that volunteering is a great means for that.
I signed up as a volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross as a responder in their Disaster Management team. Throughout the years I have helped out with small so-called personal disasters where people loose their home because of a fire, or in larger disaster responses such as the Slave Lake fires and High River floodings. The nice thing we do is help victims with housing, clothing and food for the first period until they have found a permanent solution.
At the same time I signed up as a volunteer with C.A.R.E. to help with translations and interpretations between English and Dutch and German, and as a host for an ever newer newcomer to Red Deer, a young man from Iran who spoke very limited English. As a host I was his buddy and showed him around in Red Deer and area. Quickly we became his home for the Sundays.
From 2012 till 2015 I was member of the new local KidSport chapter, where we helped children in a financial way to join sports clubs if their parents can't afford it. Fundraising, promotion and the financial administration were my tasks. In 2012 and 2013 I was volunteering with the United Way in one of their application review teams to help decide which organizations receive how much funding support. When I became C.A.R.E.'s Executive Director in September 2013 that became a conflict of interest and I had to discontinue that.
Over the years I have done occasional volunteering with the Ronald McDonald House at their annual Bonspiel fundraiser, the Rotaract's Wingfest and some other event.
In all volunteer work I find satisfaction in doing something helpful and meaningful for others. Born and raised in a family where volunteering is a natural thing to do (both my parents in their 80-ies are still active), and married to a beautiful person with the same genes, volunteering and helping others is a given happy thing in life.
Then in September 2016 I joined Sunrise Rotary to meet interesting and nice people, and for sure to get broader connections in the same community that welcomed us years ago. As a Rotarian I have been scheduling speakers for our weekly meetings, and helped out at different occasions, such as Rebels 50/50, Festival of Trees, Ronald McDonald House.
In the past year I had to slow down a bit as my work has been taking a big amount of my time and energy, but I'm happy to be back and looking forward to doing more good things for our community and for those who can need some support.
With over 200 event guests we were able to raise $22,000.00 during the 2018 Playscape Paint Party which is a whopping 30% increase in funds raised over last year! Thanks again to all the Painters, Volunteers, Guests and Staff at the Hideout! Your hard work and generosity is outstanding. Over the next couple of weeks we will be happy to share moments from the event with you so stay tuned!
