There was a time, not too long ago, when people generally knew their neighbours and when families tended to be close-knit units.
That social structure meant that when someone needed help, whether that help took the form of getting a ride to an appointment, fixing some part of their home, or helping with the gardening, there were people who were around to help.
Sadly, those days have increasingly faded into the past.
Ironically, in an age where cell phones and social media have allowed for a 24/7 connectivity between people, folks may find themselves more isolated than ever, and finding someone to help out can be daunting.
That’s where the Saanich Volunteer Services Society comes in.
“We’ve been around for more than 30 years, and we try to bridge that gap between people who need help and those who are willing to provide it,” said Saanich Volunteer Services executive director Carol Turnbull. “We’re here to support the community and allow folks to live as independently as possible.”
The Society is housed just off the 18th hole of Cedar Hill Golf Course in the 123-year-old former home of Victoria’s McRae family.
“I guess we’re sort of the 19th hole,” said Turnbull. “It’s a great building and it’s a little ironic that, when this building was built, society was different, and neighbours helped each other without calling it ‘volunteer service’.”
The Society provides services to the people of Saanich in everything from driving people to appointments to minor home repair, help with the gardens and food hamper delivery. They also provide some old-style social interaction with volunteers who will make telephone calls and visits to clients, just to chat about past or current events or maybe play some games.
“That sort of contact can be very important to people … more important than we tend to think about,” said Turnbull. “We have about 150 volunteers right now and this year alone we’ve done more than the equivalent of seven full-time staff positions.”
The Society’s website cites some 944 clients being served by volunteers providing more than 9,000 hours of services. And, the reasons that people volunteer tend to have a common theme.
Take Diana Kerr, for example. She retired from the Royal Bank after working there for 35 years.
“I used to golf at Cedar Hill, and I saw this great old building and wondered what it was. When I found out, I realized that it was a chance to add more value to my life by helping others,” said Kerr, who now heads up a team of 13 volunteers who help people with their tax returns. “We did 650 returns last year for seniors and even younger people who were having difficulty with their returns. And while we’re helping, we get to meet a lot of great people. It’s a chance to get back to feeling like you’re adding something to the community. It makes me feel good.”
Loreen Matheson and her husband Blair have a similar story.
“I started volunteering soon after I retired about 18 years ago,” said Loreen. “I’ve always been a driver, taking people to appointments and meetings. I’ve done more than 2,000 drives. Wow, that sounds like a lot, doesn’t it?”
“The truth is, though, that we get more out of this than we give," Loreen added. "You get friendship and you get to hear people’s stories … people that you’d never encounter who have interesting backgrounds, experiences and even points of view.”
Blair came to the Society after his own retirement about 5 years after his wife’s and was drafted to head up the Society’s executive. He’s also done some driving and performed other acts of volunteerism over the years.
“Clients can become friends and, especially with older clients, you can learn so much from their stories,” said Blair. “I’m so glad that I did this, and I’ll continue to do it for as long as I can.”
“We’re always looking for more volunteers," said Turnbull. "All you have to do is drop in here and we’ll get you started or visit our website at www.saanichvolunteers.org. We’ll match you up with a volunteer job in community.”
“This organization gives so much to the community, but the funny thing is that the volunteers also come away with rewards that they never considered when they stepped up to offer their services.”
