McMaster employee volunteers make a lasting impact
Cleaning up litter in the park, tutoring a friend, dropping change in a donation box…even the smallest deed can make a significant impact.
Last week was National Volunteer Week and to celebrate McMaster wants to thank all those who contribute to our community.
Whether you lent your support to the United Way Campaign, which successfully raised $250,000 in 2023, participated in organizing or attending campus events like the McMaster Children’s Party, attended by 375 children, or the Inspiring from Within Conference, or engaged in the diverse range of campus well-being initiatives such as MacMoves and Thrive Week, none of these initiatives would be possible without the dedicated volunteers.
To celebrate the ‘moments that matter’ and the contributions of the McMaster volunteer community, we asked McMaster employees to share their volunteer moments that mattered this year.
Looking for ways to get involved? Sign up for one of the employee volunteer committees and/or help make a positive change in the community by getting involved and donating to this year’s United Way Campaign.
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Since joining the Connect ME/Community Engagement Committee six years ago, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many lovely people who work all over this beautiful campus. Through our collaborations with The United Way, I helped coordinate many successful events such as our annual Bus Pull and Charity Auction which have raised many valuable dollars to go towards deserving community programs. Heather Vey | Administrative Coordinator and Chair, Community Engagement Committee |
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Reflecting on a decade of volunteering at McMaster, the moments that resonate most deeply are those shared smiles – whether with fellow volunteers, employees engaged in our myriad of programs, or the bright-eyed children at our holiday parties. It’s tough to pinpoint just one instance, for each smile has woven into the fabric of our community, transforming mere employment at McMaster into a profound sense of belonging. This journey has been more than just contributing; it’s been about enriching the McMaster employee experience. Paola Morrone | Strategic Project Manager – Budgeting, Financial Affairs |
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I had the opportunity to volunteer for the Inspiring from Within conference. It was during one of the breakout sessions for mindfulness where I could see participants fully engaged in the theme of resetting and refreshing. I felt like all the hard work the committee and I had put in was making an impact. Andrew Folino | Academic Department Manager, Department of History/Global Peace & Social Justice |
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As a volunteer, I have witnessed countless moments that truly matter. I’m thinking of all the learning sessions that we have organized, attended, or facilitated over the last year and there was one moment that truly stands out: it was when Professor Aadil Merali suggested we have healthy snacks and drinks for the McMaster staff who were going to attend the Financial Wellness learning session. His caring, compassionate, kind behaviour comes to mind every time I schedule a learning session around lunch. Christa Morrison | Business Systems Specialist, University Technology Services |
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During the Inspiring From Within Conference, I responded to a few enquiries about managing an ever-increasing volume of emails which can take up an enormous amount of work time and be quite daunting. Sharing readily available, simple tools and how to use them brought a smile to the participants’ faces. I was grateful for the opportunity to help participants make room for more human connections and finding the sweet spot professionally and personally. Deridor Collier | Business Systems Analyst, University Technology Services |