“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Doing things for others can cover a vast range of possibilities, from the simple act of acknowledging another’s presence by saying hello to full-time volunteering. Any seemingly small gesture adds richness to their and my life tapestry.

I started volunteering at a homeless shelter a couple of years ago. Sunday dinner is my gig. I arrive when the food is in the oven and help complete the accompaniments, take orders, plate, and clean up. This captures the physical side of what I do, but the more important part is the human interaction. Like any group, some residents are less motivated than others, but most have just landed on hard times and need a helping hand to find their way. Once in such a downward spiral, there is no simplicity in escape. The world can be challenging and unkind, impatient to label, put you in a bucket, and leave you there.

When I first started, I was frightened. I didn’t know what was scaring me, but I knew I felt intimidated and out of my comfort zone. I also don’t know what kept propelling me forward through the orientation to volunteering every Sunday, but I’m glad I did. I gain as much from the weekly experience as the residents I serve.

The shelter’s inhabitants range in age from eighteen to eighty. Volunteers are scheduled for breakfast, dinner, and various other jobs. This support frees the full-time staff to tend to more urgent issues that arise.

The employees are a breed unto themselves. Hugely compassionate, patient, and service-driven, they often go above and beyond to ensure people feel seen and cared about. On a recent occasion, it was one of the resident’s birthdays. The shelter usually tries to ensure these events are recognized, but the date had been overlooked this time for some reason. One of the workers noticed and quickly ran out to buy a slice of cake for the birthday boy and muffins for the rest of the group. After dinner, we topped the slice with a candle and broke into song, soon joined by everyone in the room. The recipient cried. What a joy to be part of such a great experience and be reminded how deeply we can touch each other through simple gestures.  

Retirement will see me continuing my volunteer work and ensuring a nod or hello is given to anyone I meet. I want my legacy to be that I left a vibrant thread woven through the lives of those I have been fortunate enough to encounter. Knowing that I had added colour to an all-too-often gray world would be an outstanding achievement.