Anglicare is blessed to have over 600 volunteers contribute their time, skills and kindness towards helping us serve the community. Many of our volunteers come to us through our shared connection to Christ, through partnerships with parishes and through a desire to do God’s work.
We recognise that many of our services could not continue to reach vulnerable community members without the generosity of our volunteers. In a small effort to show our gratitude, and in celebration of National Volunteer Week, Anglicare hosted a Volunteer Morning Tea on the 18th of May where we honoured the amazing contribution made by volunteers.
The event was held at St John’s Care in Ried. Anglicare CEO Brandon Howard spoke about the important role volunteers provide to our organisation and how inspiring it has been for him, when visiting Anglicare services, to see their efforts in action.
We also heard from two long-time Anglicare volunteers, Margaret and Wendy of Queanbeyan’s Food Fair program, who shared their experiences of seeing first-hand the difference they make in the lives of the community members who access this essential food service.
The keynote speaker for the event was author, psychologist and social researcher Hugh McKay who addressed the concept of kindness as a human trait. In his speech, Mr. McKay praised our volunteers as heroes, commending them for connecting individuals to communities through acts of kindness, despite a trend in modern times toward living in more and more isolated ways. Mr. McKay reminded us that as social beings, humans are hardwired for kindness. As he explained, kindness is ingrained in our social nature, but it also must be nurtured, encouraged and exemplified.
We are so thankful to have an army of volunteers who exemplify and encourage kindness daily and nurture the community by giving of themselves. Anglicare would not be the organisation it is, and would not be able to serve as many in need, without them.
Thank you to all the volunteers that continue to serve alongside us in our mission.
