Kay F.
Meet Kay
Retirement has provided this great volunteer to to continue giving back to community in ways she has done most of her life. She views helping others as it own reward. Kay helps sort food and prepares hampers to help many London families in need. Read her story below.
Food Bank volunteer, Kay Faroni, must believe in never standing still as she joined the volunteer team at the London Food Bank (LFB) – two days before she retired, March 2021.
She said volunteering at various charities started early in her life and that caring for others has been the background to her career in healthcare. For years she’s admired and been aware of the Food Bank; and retirement has provided the opportunity to discover what a community treasure the LFB organization represents.
Retirement has also provided the gift of time which she is using to enjoy meeting new people: learning more about her team members, as well as, doing something fulfilling.
In addition, because of the nature of her previous profession – steeped in caring – shifting the focus to other’s in the London community was a logical transition. She considers the LFB as an “essential service” and appreciates Administration for being meticulous with planning and the implementation of very comprehensive protocols… ensuring the safety of the staff, volunteers and the public. Kay says, “I’ve felt safe every step of the way.”
Her tasks to date have included: sorting donated groceries, preparing hampers to give to clients, working in the front office preparing final hamper items for sending home to clients – with training to get familiar with computer database to document donations being the only area requiring particular skills, so far.
Sometimes she has encountered clients who come back to the LFB – after a year or two without using the Food Bank’s service – because of suffering a job loss or other set back. She also notes that the documentation and resources available to new Canadians has been a discovery. Adding that anyone can incur a bad situation, at any time. Her aim is to assure them that the LFB is there for everyone.
She feels the public in London is well aware of the Food Bank and its mission. Plus, they respect the fact that the vast majority of donations reaches the end user – without the creation of an administrative empire. This, in turn, encourages more denotations.
Summing up her experience with the Food Bank, Kay points to being part of the mission to help others with the most basic of needs is truly its own reward… adding that the camaraderie and mutual respect among LFB staff and volunteers is a fabulous bonus. It’s also been very impressive and enlightening to recognize the generosity of London businesses.
Kay also feels that others thinking of volunteering for any amount of time – a few hours a day, a week… 20 years! – will find what she has found: you will be welcome without reservation
Readers familiar with Volunteer Corner will recognize a little feature whereby volunteers suggests a favourite song / artist
Kay has put forward the song ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’ by U2 (1987)
Have a listen!
“You broke the bonds
And you loosed the chains
Carried the cross
Of my shame… you know I believe it.”