Volunteer Spotlight

One of the most integral pieces of Mom2Mom is our volunteer program. Without our relationship volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to deliver essential services to participant moms and their children.

In honour of Volunteer Appreciation Week, we interviewed a few of our dedicated volunteer pairs. Read below to learn about their journey volunteering with Mom2Mom.

Evie & Sasha

Evie (pictured left) and her daughter Sasha have been part of the Mom2Mom program (M2M) since 2017. Their experience as a mother and daughter pair bring a unique perspective to the relationship that they have with their participant mom.

What made you decide to volunteer with Mom2Mom over other organizations?

Evie: My sister-in-law, Judy Gale, had heard about the organization and was interested in it. She invited me to a Mother’s Day luncheon for the volunteers and I was impressed by Melinda, who was heading M2M at the time, and also the mother who spoke of the benefits she had received from the organization through her volunteer partner. I felt it was a very worthwhile project and wanted to be a part of it. I was inspired by the idea that it was possible to make a difference to someone just by being available to help, and to basically become a friend who is supportive.

Sasha: I first heard about Mom2Mom from my mom who attended the Mother’s Day brunch fundraiser with my Auntie. My mom was moved by the speaker who was a M2M participant and shared the experience with me. I had just completed my degree and had two little kids. I remember thinking how much I had leaned on my support system and how integral it had been to my success. I felt like it was time to pay it forward.

How has being a part of the M2M community impacted your life?

Evie: By being in M2M, I have made a new friend that I would not have likely met. I have watched her children grow up and shared stories with her about times with children and life in general. We get along well and I look forward to seeing her (when we can get back to normal visits). Learning about some of the challenges that she has to deal with as a single mom with three children has given me a great respect for her resourcefulness.

Sasha: It has given me perspective and has taught me a lot about resilience of the mothers in our community. I gained a great friend in my participant mom and have learned so much from her excellent parenting skills.

What do you wish other people knew about volunteering?

Evie: I wish other people knew that volunteering with M2M is taking another person into your life. They share with you and you also learn from them. I think it is enriching on both sides.

Sasha: I feel like I have gained as much, if not more, from being a part of M2M.

As a mom and daughter pair, how has volunteering together impacted your relationship with each other?

Evie: Volunteering with my daughter has been great, as we have been able to share our experiences with our partner. She has probably got to know us a little better because of it. If I refer to a time when I was raising my kids, she can see Sasha and get the other side of that or we laugh about teenagers, etc. As for impacting our relationship, I think it has just added another element we can share and we both enjoy it.

Sasha: It has given us a new experience together and it's been rewarding working together to help someone else. It has been great being a mother daughter team because we have different perspectives. I can relate to being in the thick of child rearing, my participant mom and I both have three daughters. My mom is older...I mean wiser and has been through it and can offer advice from the other side.

What is one word you would use to describe your experience volunteering with M2M?

Evie: Worthwhile.

Sasha: Fulfilling.

Kate & Penny

Kate (on the right) has been involved with M2M for five years. After hearing of Kate’s experience with the organization, Penny (pictured on the left), decided to join as Kate’s co-volunteer in the summer of 2020.

What made you decide to volunteer with Mom2Mom over other organizations?

Kate: I heard or saw a Mom2Mom spotlight on CBC and it really tweaked my interest. In the past I have mostly done volunteer work on Boards, but I was curious about getting involved on a more intimate level so I could experience the impact of the work.

Penny: I was introduced to M2M when Kate was fundraising. After talking with Kate about her experience and reading more about the organization, I felt I would like to contribute. Kate has been a wonderful resource in introducing me to our mom and ways I can be involved.

How has being a part of the M2M community impacted your life?

Kate: It has opened my eyes to the difficulties and challenges faced by families living in poverty and how difficult it is to climb out of poverty once in it.

Penny: M2M has been an education for me about moms and families who live under very difficult circumstances. When the pandemic is under control, I'm looking forward to returning to more regular visits and group get togethers that are so important to this community.

What do you wish other people knew about volunteering?

Kate: It’s especially satisfying to build a long term relationship with my participant mom. I have been lucky to have had the same Mom for all 5 years of my involvement with Mom2Mom.

Penny: My experience with volunteering has been very positive. The support and resources the coordinators provide help guide the volunteers with their involvement.

What is one word you would use to describe your experience volunteering with M2M?

Both: Positive.

Gillian & Jen

Sister-pair Gillian and Jen have been volunteering with M2M for seven years. During their time, they have been paired with two participant moms.

What made you decide to volunteer with Mom2Mom over other organizations?

Gillian & Jen: It came on our radar through the article with the Vancouver Sun and we went to the orientation event and we liked the idea that it is a relationship-based volunteer experience. We also liked the fact that the volunteers are done in partnership, that having two of us do it together.

How has being a part of the M2M community impacted your life?

Gillian & Jen: We like being part of the M2M community, as it is about connection and that connection benefits everyone that is part of this amazing community.

What do you wish other people knew about volunteering?

Gillian & Jen: Volunteering is about connecting with people in your community and we all benefit from this connection. With M2M, it is based on relationships, and that is very rewarding. As a M2M volunteer you also have the support of the M2M networks and resources.

What is one word you would use to describe your experience volunteering with M2M?

Gillian & Jen: Connection.