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We love our Volunteers!
Date 28 Apr, 2025
It’s National Volunteer Week (April 27-May 3) and we want to show some love and appreciation for those who help us provide dignity, belonging, and justice to our neighbours in the Downtown Eastside. Volunteers help to provide vital assistance that keeps us going and ensuring that we can achieve our vision of a neighbourhood where every person’s worth is celebrated and all people can thrive.
Over our 140 years, thousands have generously donated their time to serve the community. From leading FIRST UNITED’s governance or making sandwiches, to driving our food truck and writing Christmas cards, caring for people’s feet and stuffing envelopes and phoning donors, and so much more, volunteers have been an important thread in the tapestry of this community.
For National Volunteer Week 2025, we wanted to highlight some key volunteers who have supported us over the past year. Take a moment to read why they give their time, and what they’ve learned from volunteering with FIRST:
Heather Clarke – Chair, Board of Directors, food truck volunteer, former foot care volunteer
“Regardless of where, when, or how I have volunteered, I always feel that I receive more than I give. While at times I’ve been required to log volunteer hours, I’ve never felt that “hours” are an adequate expression of what is received and what is given. Volunteering for FIRST UNITED (no log required!) has been, and continues to be, a blessing to me. The blessing of volunteering with the Food Truck is seeing expressions on the faces of those served–gratitude, pleasure, relief etc.–expressions reflecting the bit of relief for being recognized, greeted with warmth, and fed a hot nutritious meal. At other times when FIRST UNITED was offering foot care, I felt blessed by getting to know those who regularly attended, appreciating the warm foot soaks, clean socks, and friendly conversation. Volunteering is part of who I am, what brings me joy, and through small actions hopefully makes a difference in the lives of others.”
Deb Walker – Food truck volunteer
“Participating in the Thanksgiving meal service from the FIRST UNITED Food Truck was such a win for me. Acts of service are my love language, and the meal was delicious…Plating up food for folks, asking their preferences, watching elders and folks with extra needs blend into the front of the line seamlessly was all a joy to be a part of. It is difficult to know how to make an impact, and hard to gauge how to “show up” in the important ministry of FIRST UNITED. I believe that being together is the first step. When you are invited, GO! I am continuously grateful for the community that offers dignity and welcome to all on the Downtown Eastside and it is inspiring to be included.”
Derek Pineda – Advocacy volunteer
“What motivates me to volunteer at this organization is my passion for helping others and my interest in advocacy work. This is a great way for me to get involved and learn more about the amazing work as well as taking this as a meaningful step towards my career goals.”
Kunal Jain – Tax clinic volunteer
“Volunteering at the Tax Clinic has been a truly rewarding experience. I’m motivated by the opportunity to help individuals who may not have access to professional tax services, and it feels great to make a direct impact in the community. I’ve also enjoyed applying the knowledge I’ve gained in my accounting studies to real-world situations. This experience has helped me improve my communication skills and boosted my confidence in dealing with clients and tax-related matters. It’s been both a learning experience and a meaningful way to give back.”
It is with our deepest and most sincere gratitude that we thank these individuals, and the more than 100 others, who have given their time, energy, and passion over the past year. We thank you. The community we serve thanks you. You are an important part of the FIRST UNITED community and our pursuit of dignity, belonging, and justice.
Are you interested in getting involved? Sign up today to be a volunteer! When our new building opens in early 2026, we will have dozens of new volunteer roles available and we will need your help! We’ll be launching a robust new volunteer program near the end of the year, so be sure to sign up and get on our list for important updates.