Wilmot and Wellesley Resource Centre provides food and clothing for families who can’t afford them. We selected the WWRC because it is local to us, and we appreciate that they support not only people living in town but also those in rural areas who may need assistance.
Our experience started when we all received sponsor families (14 total) to shop for. We then shopped for the families (mostly online) and packed their gifts up as requested by the WWRC. We then sent three groups on three different days throughout their volunteer week, where we all had different experiences.
On the first volunteer day, Group 1 (Michael, Lauren, and Elizabeth) spent the morning delivering hampers filled with the gifts we had purchased for the families. They also had the opportunity to fill more boxes with toys and make food hampers On the second volunteer day, Group 2 (Taylor, Scott, and Kelsi) spent the morning labelling socks by size and sorting through hats and mitts. They also got the opportunity to pack more food boxes and make sure they had everything they needed in them. On the third volunteer day, Group 3 (Kelly, Danielle, Drew, and Shara) spent the morning helping families shop for what they needed (hats, mitts, etc.).
After purchasing gifts and grocery cards for our families, we had some additional money left over. We then donated the additional amount to the WWRC so they could purchase any additional food they needed.
The WWRC is always looking for volunteers and tries to match applicants with a position that makes them feel fulfilled while addressing the Centre’s needs.
