Volunteers Serve

Like other retailers, spring 2020 saw our ReStores close for several weeks while distancing measures were initiated, and extra protocols were implemented. Fortunately, our online store continued to thrive and grow. However, we were thrilled when we were able to reopen our retail locations and welcome back our much-appreciated volunteers.

“Volunteers make a tremendous difference to us,” says Nadia Brigden, Senior Manager for our Langley ReStore.

As an organization that relies heavily on volunteers, National Volunteer Week, April 18-24 is especially poignant for the team at Habitat Greater Vancouver, as we recognize and appreciate the impact the last year has had on our volunteers. While many chose to return to our stores and build sites, some have not. Nadia understands people’s reluctance to volunteer now, acknowledging that “everyone has to do what is right for them, especially during these uncertain times.”

Andrew has been volunteering with Habitat GV for almost two years. He happened upon the Langley ReStore and thought it looked kind of interesting, and soon found himself volunteering and working on furniture assembly. He liked the challenge of it and laughs when he says that sometimes the donated items had “incomplete instructions, so we were winging it.”

With a background in photography, Andrew’s skills were soon put to work taking photos of items in the store and preparing them to be featured through the online store. He does this one day per week and is pleased to find ways to volunteer within his own community. He also volunteers with another organization visiting lonely seniors. He enjoys helping and appreciates the structure volunteering provides to his week. Andrew also carries the value of a “hand up” with a strong desire to contribute to other peoples’ success.

In a nod to today’s celebration of Earth Day, Andrew believes strongly in circular economy and says we should be “good stewards of the planet, all of the time.”

Nadia echoes that sentiment and says, “for me, Earth Day is every day, and we work really hard to always be aware of what we are throwing away and how we are doing it. The Langley store recently went four months without a garbage bin pickup, which is unheard of.”

Each of our store managers works hard to make everyone comfortable in the workplace. “It’s important that they (staff and volunteers) feel respected and that they feel safe. It’s having those conversations with them,” says Angela Jelicic, Manager at North Vancouver ReStore.

She is passionate about the experience for the volunteers. Recognizing that 2020 has taken a significant emotional toll, Angela notes that managers have provided gift cards for lunches, or on a busy or rainy day someone will do a Tim Horton’s fun for everyone as a perk – kind of a pick-me-up and recognition of their value.

Nora Batchelor’s first introduction to Habitat for Humanity was through three Global Village trips she did in 2019 – twice to Nepal and once to Indonesia. Her plan was to do more trips in 2020, but then COVID hit. She loved the Habitat organization so much so thought she would try building at our Richmond site. The homes were then at the framing stage, and after three or four shifts of hammering, Nora decided she might be better suited to volunteering at the ReStore.

She started at the Langley store where she was impressed with the quality of the products they sold. “It’s so drool worthy,” she said when describing the store.

Her volunteering there ended as the store closed with the pandemic. She moved during that time and now found herself closer to the North Vancouver store. Once things opened up, one of the friends she made on the Nepal build was volunteering in North Vancouver and encouraged her to give it a go. She regularly puts in two days per week, often six hour shifts and is confident about the protocols in place.

“I feel very safe, and it gets me out,” she says about her volunteering. “It makes me feel good that I’m doing something that gives back. I just think it’s such a cool organization in general.”

As with many of our volunteers, Nora has a great deal of experience in volunteerism, having learned from her mother. Sewing is her hobby, and she has been sewing masks for the Tailgate Project, and previously sewed caps for hospital staff. But meeting the Partner Families who move into our homes has been most impactful for her. Working alongside them in the ReStore and hearing their stories has made quite an impression on Nora. By meeting them, “you know what your work at the ReStore is going toward,” she says.

Angela heartily agrees. “Having Partner Families join us volunteering in the ReStores is invaluable. It brings that to the forefront of why we’re here – just cements it.”

Angela suggests that what sets ReStore apart as a volunteer opportunity is that they offer training for different skills and know the importance of allowing volunteers to put forward their suggestions and input. “It is important that everyone feels valued, and the work feels valued,” she says.

Volunteering at ReStore has also been known to occasionally lead to becoming a paid staff member, as is the case for Marcus in North Vancouver. He first volunteered approximately three years ago to teach a corporate group how to build planter boxes. Angela was struck by his kindness and patience and offered him a position as a summer student. Marcus cannot speak, but communicates by phone, and now has experience in all aspects of the store.

“He can run this store by himself,” says Angela proudly. She considers him a great adviser, especially when it comes to computer repair. One never can tell the path that volunteering will take them on.

Jim has been volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in the US and Canada for four years. With COVID and the inability to travel, Jim has been helping at our Enterprise Street store in Burnaby and feels rewarded by giving back in his local community. He enjoys building and appreciates the camaraderie of working with the Habitat team. In his words, “It’s a great organization to be associated with and I feel that I’m contributing to my belief in safe and reasonable housing and community structure.”

We are so grateful to benefit from the dedication of Jim and all our other volunteers, and we appreciate them all! Each volunteer has their own special story, but what is wildly apparent, is that they all possess similar traits:

All our volunteers are selfless, loyal, fascinating, and AMAZING!

THANK YOU for serving your community and serving families – during National Volunteer Week, on Earth Day, and ALWAYS!!!