Volunteering with Community Care Means Quality Time for Local Lindsay Family
Volunteering is a rewarding way to help the community, meet new people and gain new skills. For the Belton family however, volunteering offers so much more.
Dustin and Stephanie Belton along with their three children, Luke (9), Houston (5) and Ellie (3) are all volunteers of Community Care, delivering Meals on Wheels to members of the community. Both Dustin and Stephanie are teachers in Lindsay and wanted a way to spend more time together as a family during the summer break. When Stephanie mentioned volunteering with Community Care, they knew it was something fun and rewarding they could do together as a family.
“Stephanie volunteered for Community Care when she was in high school and really enjoyed the feeling of helping out her community,” says Dustin. “She had the idea to volunteer during the summer as a family when we are all off school and work. It’s been wonderful spending this time together as a family and also giving back to our community.”
This is the second summer the Belton family has delivered Meals on Wheels with Community Care and they say that volunteering has helped their children develop their confidence and social skills. “We wanted to share the importance of volunteering with our kids. It’s also important that they can go out and talk with different people,” says Dustin. “They didn’t get a chance to meet a lot of new people during the pandemic so we wanted to find a way for them to build their social skills and have less screen time.”
The Meals on Wheels program offers a variety of hot or frozen ready-to-eat meals that meet a number of preferences and dietary needs. Community Care began offering Meals on Wheels along with other community-based home support services in 1985, and continues to provide this service today. Volunteers like the Beltons deliver these meals to clients in the community, but these deliveries provide more than a nutritious meal. They also serve as an important social interaction and a friendly check-in for the clients.
Dustin notes that all the clients they deliver to are always excited to meet the kids and interact with them. Luke, Houston and Ellie get to talk to the clients and bond over shared interests. “The kids love coming along and meeting all the people we deliver meals to. They love animals and they always enjoy meeting the cats and dogs that live with the clients. We drop off meals to one lady in Lindsay and the kids can’t wait to see her cat, Rusty.”
Community Care was founded by volunteers and they remain vital to providing programs and services in Kawartha Lakes. There are many different volunteering opportunities available to fit a variety of interests, skills and schedules. “Community Care made us feel that they would work with our schedule and that we could donate whatever amount of time worked for us. We deliver meals once a week around Lindsay, Little Britain and Oakwood and our routes usually take about an hour and a half. This works with our schedule and gives us quality time to spend together as a family. It was also so easy to sign up as a volunteer. We completed a form on Community Care’s website and then got a call for an interview a few days later. The process to sign up as a volunteer is very simple.” says Dustin.
While the summer break is almost over and the Belton family will be going back to school soon, they note that they will continue volunteering with Community Care next summer. “It can be difficult to volunteer during the school year with our schedules, but Community Care has been so welcoming and accommodating for us during the summer break. We will definitely be back to volunteer again next year. We enjoy all that Community Care and the Meals on Wheels program does for the community.”
Anyone interested in volunteering with Community Care can visit www.ccckl.ca/volunteer, email volunteerservices@ccckl.ca or call 705-324-7323.
Quick Facts:
Wide varieties of affordable and nutritious hot and frozen foods are available to seniors and adults with special needs across the City of Kawartha Lakes through our Meals on Wheels program. The program helps ensure nutritional needs are met while also providing social interaction and a safety check from the volunteers who make the deliveries.
Community Care is supported by more than 300 active volunteers that are crucial in delivering programs and services for clients in Kawartha Lakes.
Associated Links:
For more information:
Amanda Poirier, Marketing and Communications Specialist
Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes
705-324-7323 ext. 167
apoirier@ccckl.ca
www.ccckl.ca
