Volunteer Spotlight
National Volunteer Week is April 14–20. Celebrate with us by reading about some of our amazing volunteers that dedicate time to their community.
Krisha Z.
My neighbourhood cleanliness drive – Our City
How did you get started with volunteering?
I started with cleaning my neighbourhood and then started going to participate in City of Surrey park cleanliness drives at different parks.
What are your most memorable moments during your volunteer service?
I enjoyed every moment of the cleanliness drives but some of the most memorable moments are planting trees for the environment, chalk art on sidewalks and badge making.
What kept you coming back?
The thing that made me come back was my responsibility towards my city's cleanliness.
What would you say to someone who is considering volunteering?
Just try it once, you enjoy so much while cleaning your community that you will come again and again.
Victor S.
Park Partnerships – Park Care Team
How did you get started with volunteering?
I grew up in Surrey and I get frustrated seeing all the litter everywhere. I like doing my part to care for my community. I also thought it would be a great way to get volunteer hours for my medical school application.
What are your most memorable moments during your volunteer service?
When we found a mountain of garbage and were able to get it all cleaned up. It was a great “before and after” moment.
What kept you coming back to volunteer?
The garbage doesn’t stop and it’s satisfying to see a clean space. It’s a great long-term commitment and something I can do on my own schedule.
What would you say to someone who is considering volunteering?
In general, if you need volunteer hours, choose something that you care about. Choose things that are satisfying and that matter to you and it’s a win-win.
Luiz M.
Our City
How did you get started with volunteering?
When I arrived in Canada (March 2022) I realized that BC is a place with rich nature (animals, forests, lakes, ponds and so on) among the urban area. Then I thought that I could cooperate somehow to keep this place beautiful, clean and safe when I saw the opportunity to volunteer at the City of Surrey, by cleaning, picking litter at different parks.
What are your most memorable moments during your volunteer service?
When I finish cleaning, I see all the garbage and stuff that were not part of nature and was spread in parks that are now concentrated in plastic bags and will have a proper disposal.
And it is also memorable when I see some animals (crow, squirrel and others) during the cleaning, I feel that I am helping them also.
What kept you coming back to volunteer?
It is the awareness that I can contribute with my effort, that I can make a difference to nature and to the communities where I am a volunteer.
What would you say to someone who is considering volunteering?
If you propose to be a volunteer, do not do a poor job, but do it with passion.
Cindy L.
Surrey Art Gallery
How did you get started with volunteering?
I started volunteering after adjusting to post-COVID-pandemic life and realizing I wasn't very connected with my local community. Given the circumstances, I felt there was no better way to bridge that gap than by offering my assistance to foster a stronger sense of community through volunteering. When I noticed that the Art Center had opened its volunteer applications, I eagerly jumped at the opportunity, as I've always had a passion for various forms of art, like performing and visual arts. Being able to lend a hand in an area that I'm passionate about and spread the beauty of art among the younger generation was a dream-come-true volunteer opportunity for me.
What are your most memorable moments during your volunteer service?
Throughout my volunteering journey, my most cherished moments were those when I witnessed firsthand the positive impact that I was having on the children participating in the art classes I volunteer with. On one specific occasion, while I was volunteering in a drawing foundations class, a young girl chose to sketch me as part of her practice drawing people. This gesture, although it may appear insignificant, was deeply touching, and at that moment, I truly felt the significance of my presence in the lives of the kids. This experience motivated me to approach the children with even greater care and attention, recognizing that every interaction I have with the kids counts, even when it is only a tiny snippet of their life. There are also countless small moments during the classes that touch my heart. These include instances where children directly approach me to seek help to effortlessly recall my name without relying on a name tag. Moreover, the connections I have with the staff and the other volunteers also foster unforgettable memories. From simple gestures like holding the door open to the more deliberate acts of lending a helping hand without me needing to ask, every moment spent within the art center is filled with joy. Every time I step to volunteer, the more I feel privileged with these invaluable memories that are made, whether that be with the staff, other volunteers, or people who I am helping.
Bhupinder (Paul) S. M.
Age Friendly – WALKit, Textile Dye Garden
How did you get started with volunteering?
From my childhood, I was always eager to help others. Now I’m semi-retired, I have time, so I can help more.
What are your most memorable moments during your volunteer service?
I feel good and get satisfaction by helping others. I have so many memories, hard to describe in two lines.
What kept you coming back to volunteer?
It’s in my nature to help others that is why I keep coming back to volunteering.
What would you say to someone who is considering volunteering?
This is the best thing you can give back to the community when you are retired.
Cindy A.
Age Friendly and City Wide Events
How did you get started in volunteering?
Feeling useful and making a contribution to my community are important to me. I also enjoy walking and do it regularly. A couple of years ago, I was advised by my daughter that volunteers were being sought for the Surrey Walks program (now known as WALKit). It seemed like a good fit for me so I signed on and have been walking ever since.
What are your most memorable moments during your volunteer service?
During the SPARK festival, I was asked to sit and knit while a music and movement performance took place for a group of toddlers and their parents. It was an unusual assignment but a very enjoyable one.
What kept you coming back to volunteer?
The WALKit program has introduced me to parks and trails that I didn’t know existed and, more importantly, to people from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences whom I otherwise would not have met. Other activities such as the Tree Lighting Festival at Christmas and SPARK festival focus on children and families and are just plain fun.
What would you say to someone who is considering volunteering?
The variety of volunteer opportunities means that there truly is something for everyone. Whether you have a little time to share or a lot, whether you are older or younger, you can help make Surrey a better, more inclusive place.