Finding time this month to talk about volunteerism was a challenge for Kerry Thomas, who eventually sat down to talk moments after leaving a meeting early to make an important phone call and just before he began his busy work day.
Despite the time crunch it is important to Thomas, a man focused on his career and his family, to fit volunteering into his schedule.
“It was always important to me growing up,” says Thomas, noting now volunteering has a greater impact, in his profession and in how he views his community.
“To be a true member of a community, you have to be involved,” he says, noting it is important to be involved to have a healthy and safe community and to be proud of where you live.
“You want your community to be looked upon as positive. You have no right to complain unless you’re willing to step up and do something about it. Be a volunteer, be a member of a board, people in a leadership role have an opportunity to effect change.”
The 30-year-old is in a demanding career – Job Developer with Community Living Employment Services - but finds the time to volunteer with the United Way of South Niagara on the marketing committee, is a member of Rotary, works with the North Welland Business Improvement Area, and volunteers in other ways in the community.
“You don’t want to see your neighbours or a child living in poverty, being hurt, not being successful. You want people to live a better life. The United Way supports that by providing funds,” says Thomas. “It definitely hit home as to what can be done when people get help.”
“It’s a pretty powerful thing, for sure, to take someone who is not having the best life and help turn it around.”
“We’ve got some issues here,” he says of South Niagara, including job losses and high poverty rates, that make it difficult to keep young people in the community and attract new people. Those issues and changing the community for the better, are part of why Thomas says he does get involved and give of his time and resources.
By being involved now, Thomas hopes that when his family grows the town he has grown to love as his home, will be a better home for his family.
There are other side effects to volunteering, he says, explaining that he didn’t get involved to better his career or make his work day easier, but meeting the leaders of the community and others involved in volunteerism is a great way to network. He also noted, with a job at a non-profit, that he understands that there always seems to be someone asking for help and it’s good to give back when you can.
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