People Helping People
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When 28-year-old Bri-Jon volunteered with The Salvation Army he thought he’d be sorting clothes at a thrift store. Instead, he found himself on the front lines helping complete strangers—an experience that not only made a difference in the lives of others, but his own as well.
“In 2008 the United Kingdom economy was in a serious recession,” says Bri-Jon. “Banks were going bankrupt and many people lost all their money. Unemployment soared. The government was finding more and more ways to tax people. My wife, a Canadian, and I moved to Canada for a better life and to be close to her family.”
In Canada Bri-Jon began the lengthy process to secure a permanent residency visa. Without it, he couldn’t legally work. He had a lot of time to spare.
“I was aware that The Salvation Army operated thrift stores and had red collection buckets at Christmas,” says Bri-Jon. “But when I walked through the doors of its Barrie Bayside Mission to volunteer, what I saw was almost too much for my brain to process.”
Barrie’s Bayside Mission houses a men’s shelter, soup kitchen, food bank, clothing depot, and other community and family services that meet emotional, physical and spiritual needs of vulnerable and overlooked people.
Before long Bri-Jon was buttering buns and chopping vegetables in the soup kitchen, which on any given day serves meals to more than 200 individuals. Then he served the clients and when the need for a dishwasher came about Bri-Jon jumped in.
Volunteering six hours a week quickly turned into 35 hours. Bri-Jon performed a variety of jobs from minor repairs in the building to restocking shelves for family services. He served hot chocolate at the Army’s Santa Shuffle fundraiser and distributed Christmas hampers and toys to needy families in the Adopt-A-Family program.
“I admire an organization that cares about people,” says Bri-Jon. “It’s heart-wrenching when you see a 6’7” man explode with tears because he is so thankful for a turkey that made Christmas real for his family.”
Bri-Jon was recently hired as the full-time custodian at the facility and will continue to volunteer. “The more volunteers we have, the more people we can help,” says Bri-Jon.
“Everyone should find something they are passionate about and get involved. Volunteering not only gives you a sense of purpose, seeing people succeed is an amazing return on your investments.”
For more information on volunteering with The Salvation Army click here.