Last month, Alex, J.B., Jeff and Benjamin came to volunteer for Daily Bread. They are all part of Reena’s Pathways to the Community program. Reena is an organization that supports individuals with developmental disabilities in many different ways.
Reena has been working with Daily Bread for almost five years now, bringing in different groups to volunteer.
“Volunteering at Daily Bread allows participants to gain skills and experience that they can use to further their roles in the community and feel valued,” said Justin Castator, the staff supervisior from Reena who was accompanying the volunteers.
This was Jeff’s first day volunteering, while J.B., Alex and Benjamin, have been coming for a year or more.
What do you like about volunteering at Daily Bread?
“We love coming to Daily Bread to meet new people and make new friends”, said J.B. As volunteers, they often help sort donated food or powdered milk. One of the best things about volunteering, everyone agreed, was knowing that they are helping other people.
What have you learned?
“We’ve learned how to sort food, and read labels,” said Alex, who has been volunteering for a year at Daily Bread. They also learned important things about food health and safety.
J.B., who travels all the way from Thornhill to Etobicoke on public transit by himself, said that one of the most important things he has learned is independence – gaining confidence that he can do things on his own.
What is Reena’s Pathways to the Community program?
The program is the next stage for participants who have completed high school and need some additional assistance finding meaningful roles in the community such as employment as well as social and recreational opportunities. Volunteering is just one aspect of how Reena’s Pathways to the Community program helps participants, as well cooking programs, recreational outings and physical activity. www.reena.org.
Daily Bread Food Bank values diversity and inclusion. We work with a number of community volunteer groups, including those with individuals with physical or developmental disabilities. Please contact learn@dailybread.ca for more information on how to volunteer if you are a community group.
Daily Bread’s Community Volunteer Program gives everyone a chance to shine is a post from: Daily Bread Food Bank
Original article: Daily Bread’s Community Volunteer Program gives everyone a chance to shine.
