Joy in Giving

Human beings need purpose. Many of us find it in our careers, so when the time comes for retirement, finding a cause that matters can be daunting. For Ginny Yule, expanding her personal connections locally began long before her retirement. She first served her community in 2007 as a Caledon Community Services (CCS) board member. More recently, she has found fulfillment volunteering at CCS’ Exchange. ”You have to plan for retirement and there’s no better purpose than serving your community,” she says.

Her volunteer work has been filled with personal rewards. “The people I have met through CCS have enriched my life tremendously,” she says. From a mother and daughter with special needs regularly volunteering at the Exchange, sharing the opportunity to help others in the community, to the families who enjoy the meals Ginny prepares in the fully equipped kitchen - she attributes her love for volunteering to personal connections like these. “It’s amazing to me that with the hundreds of people who come through the Exchange, the staff know everyone by name,” she marvels.

When Ginny talks about CCS, it’s the people using these programs that come to mind. “The people who are brave enough to go to the food bank and use our services are heroes,” she says. “It takes a lot of courage to say ‘I need help’.” The need in our community is very visible, and it was exacerbated by the pandemic. Ginny hopes that residents continue supporting their neighbours as we begin to leave the pandemic behind.