This year, the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre celebrated its 40th year of providing a safe, welcoming place for everyone—not just seniors—to meet friends, old and new, attend activities and, for many, have a delicious lunch. None of this would be possible without our many dedicated volunteers.
While my children were growing, I volunteered to help with the groups that they were involved with, things like minor hockey or brownies & guides but while I was working full time, I didn’t really feel that I had the time or energy to do anymore. Once I retired and was looking for something meaningful and purposeful to give some of my time to, I thought of the Centre. I had been playing pickleball there for a couple of years and had gotten to know some of the volunteers. Now it was my turn.
I have been volunteering at the Centre for almost two years, and it has become an important and rewarding part of my life. I have lived in Sechelt for over 50 years and am happy to be able to give back to the community that welcomed me all those years ago.
My volunteering role began as a Greeter, stationed just inside the front door to welcome members to the Centre. I would help members navigate signing in, point them in the right direction if they were new to the Centre and answer any number of questions. This was a rewarding role for me as I met so many people, reconnected with some old friends and began some new friendships. With this being the first point of contact for many coming to the Centre it’s an important role and we have some fabulous Greeters manning the desk these days!
Shortly after I became a volunteer, as the Centre’s membership grew, there was a need for more volunteers to work in the main reception area of the office. Pam, who was the main front office person, was doing a great job, but she was ready to step back so she could spend more time with her family. I happily joined the front office team. This was exciting for me, as this is where I felt most comfortable, having spent my working years in various administrative assistant roles in Sechelt. I jumped right in!
As a front office volunteer, we help with membership payments, wallet top-ups, selling frozen meals and answering any number of questions about the Centre. It may not sound like much, but it can get very BUSY!
My volunteer duties have grown over time, and I now look after the schedule for approximately 30 volunteers each week for the various office-related duties, including Greeter, Lunch Hostess, 50/50, Frozen Food orders and, of course, front reception. In addition, I serve as a Director at Large on the Board and sit on the HR Committee.
What I enjoy most is the interaction with the members and the other volunteers. There is a real sense of community at the Centre, and I enjoy being part of it. Volunteering gives me purpose and makes me feel good. Most importantly, it makes me feel that I am contributing to something bigger than myself and that I truly belong.
I have also discovered that volunteering can be as rewarding for the volunteer as it is for the organization. There are many ways to contribute, and you don’t have to commit to a huge role to make a difference.
If you are considering volunteering, I would encourage you to check out the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre. See what interests you, what you enjoy doing and what might be a good fit for both you and the Centre. You may be surprised at how much you get back from giving your time.
It’s certainly been worth it for me!
