More than one million people across Aotearoa volunteer for an organisation, contributing $4 billion to the economy. Much more happens within communities and informally between people.
15 – 22 June 2022 is National Volunteer Week
At Visionwest we are fortunate to have many people who give generously of their time to help out in various support services. One of these people is Rajeev.
When many of our client whānau were self-isolating and unable to come to Visionwest to pick up food, Rajeev volunteered his services. Each week, from Tuesday to Friday, he would come to the Pātaka Kai and load his car with food and toiletry parcels. In just five weeks, Rajeev gave 78 hours of his time to deliver parcels to over 130 families – that’s a lot of driving.
Rajeev with Heather one of the Visionwest Community Connect Team.
Rajeev says of his volunteering,
I was so impressed with Visionwest, and the job they are doing during the pandemic that I wanted to join in. I have a natural flair for helping people and I enjoy this role so much.
Heather works with Rajeev and coordinates his deliveries. She says,
Rajeev is amazing and so super-respectful to our whānau. He calls or texts people to make sure they know their food has been dropped off and makes a special effort for those who have disabilities or are elderly. One time, he drove 5km back into cell phone reception to check with me that the address he’d been given was correct. Then he turned around and drove back to the place to drop the food off.
It’s been awesome to have a volunteer like Rajeev. He’s so eager to help every day and even wanted to help during the weekend.
Rajeev’s servant-hearted attitude is inspiring!
Thanks Rajeev. And thanks to all our Visionwest volunteers. You make things a lot easier around Visionwest and, through your generosity, lives are being transformed.
Interested in being a Visionwest volunteer? – click here.