User Story

By Lori Sharkey

My story is a personal experience of volunteering in Edmonton. Our city is a wonderful, caring, giving city and I am so proud to be an Edmontonian! When the chips are down, Edmonton always comes through.

I volunteered at the Homeless Connect Edmonton event, held at the Shaw Conference Centre, on Sunday, May 24, 2009. I was one of over 200 volunteers that showed up at 8:00 AM to help make this event a huge success! It was a very long day and at the end, a very tiring one, but mostly, a very rewarding day! I haven’t done a lot of volunteer work in our city, but I am very glad I helped out at this event.

It was geared toward the homeless and less fortunate people of our city and they were lined up before the doors even opened! So many came through those doors; over 1000 people came to the Conference Centre that day. Young, old, able-bodied, wheelchair-bound; people of all shapes and sizes; people of all ethnic backgrounds. Yet they all had one thing in common: they were homeless.

They came to spend the day getting information, assistance, and access to free services not always available to them. Some took advantage of the free haircuts being offered, some visited the dental area and got much needed dental work, and some were able to get their taxes done. Others got immunization shots, visited the library area and got free books, and everyone was able to fill a bag with free clothes, shoes, and boots. Food, coffee, juice, and water was available throughout the day for everyone there, even for the volunteers.

Watching and helping the people was the most enjoyable part of the day. Seeing the proud look on their faces after they got their hair cut was amazing! We all know how good it feels when we get our hair cut, but most of those people don’t have the opportunity or the means to get a hair cut on a regular basis. Others were thrilled to get a new or gently-used pair of jeans/pants or a pair of work boots that didn’t have holes in them. So many things we take for granted, so many things these folks consider a luxury.

Most people left at the end of the day with a smile on their face. They were thankful for everything they had received and everything they had been given. I had been the recipient of so many smiles and “thank yous” throughout the day, it warmed my heart tremendously. One man’s story literally brought me to tears. He was so thankful for the fact that he had been treated with respect by everyone from the moment he walked in. He said that everyone had been kind, friendly, helpful, and most of all, respectful. He said that he doesn’t see that very often, and with tears in his eyes, he told his story. He told of how at his age, he can’t afford to pay the rent on his small room, plus groceries, utilities, and clothing. And he said, “forget about things like haircuts, getting someone to do your taxes, etc., there’s never enough money to go around.” So, for this gentleman, getting a free meal, free clothing, and other necessities, it was a godsend. After talking with me and two other volunteers for a few moments, he wiped his tears, gave me a hug and was gone. But he certainly left a lasting impression. I will never forget him.

It made me feel good to help and assist so many people and I know a lot of the other volunteers felt the same. What an uplifting experience to do something for others for a change, instead of only focusing on myself and my small little world.

So I say again, thank you Edmonton for coming together as a community, as a whole and helping the less fortunate. You did good and I am definitely proud to be part of such a wonderful, caring city!