We met at a local golf club near Peterborough, Ontario, a cold evening in March, about 120 people. A young couple with their new baby, some older couples - grand parents probably, some from local farms, some from the town, a few high school and university students, one or two pre-teens there with their volunteer “Special Friends”, some local bigwigs -  not there for the glory, but aware that this was something quite special. A perfectly typical mix of ordinary people... honoured for being extraordinary.

 After dinner, a young woman - Joanne McCarthy, Program Manager for Kinark in Peterborough - gave the following tribute. I'm grateful to her for allowing me to reproduce it here. It sums up what makes volunteers so crucial to helping children and their families to move forward in their lives.

 "Good Evening,

As we begin our evening, I’d like to give you an idea of the magnitude of what we are celebrating tonight as we honour our volunteers. In our Peterborough program of Kinark Child and Family Services, we’ve had a total of 92 volunteers and 11 Treatment Foster Care parents in the past year. Also, in the past year, we’ve recorded a total of 6086 volunteer service hours given to the children and families of our program. That’s a wonderful achievement. Congratulations!

 Having said that, what is it about your work as volunteers that make you so unique and special to all of us?
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As TFC (Therapeutic Foster Care) parents, you’ve welcomed children into your homes and into every aspect of your lives; as teaching parents, you’ve not only given to the children in your care, you’ve had the courage to learn from them;
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As Special Friends, you know how to play, you know how to laugh and you know how to tell kids they’re special just because you want to spend time having fun with them;

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As Host Families, you share of yourself, your home, your children and your pets; even in the midst of very busy lives, you take them everywhere, sometimes just to fulfill the promise you’ve made to a child;
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As the Child Minders for the Children’s Group, you come in week after week to play with children that you see as wonderful little people with bright futures, not as children with mental health labels;

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As Supervised Access Centres monitors, you stay by the families in their hour of need because you believe in the power of relationships for kids;
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As Parent Advisory Committee members, and as parents and grandparents, you walk the talk; you join with other parents because you know that no parent “should have to be alone through this”;
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As Friends of Kinark, you remind us that kids deserve the experience of summer camp and you make it happen through the “Camping for Kids Program”; that’s just it….you make it happen;
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As Bingo volunteers, you’ve gotten the opportunity to experience the world of gaming; but, more seriously, over time you’ve also helped to contribute anywhere from 10 to 20 thousand dollars. You’ve contributed to everything from food for the Strive Breakfast Program to eyeglasses to sports equipment for children in the Respite Program;
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As High School, College and University placement students, you’ve shared laughter and tears with our kids and families; you’ve been involved in every aspect of our Peterborough Program.

And so you see how much you give….. The sheer magic of your commitment and your compassion can light up the world for a child and their family. 

It can and has made the difference for our children and families.

But yet, there’s something else that you do for us. As volunteers in our Peterborough Program, you do work alongside those of us who are staff members. You bring to us your enthusiasm, your optimism and your determination. On those days where we, as staff members, run the risk of becoming “crusty” in our old age, you come in with your smiles and your energy and you remind us of “why we’re here”. You remind us that anything is possible when we partner with our kids and families and when we love what we do.

 And for all of that we thank you tonight!"

 Joanne highlights the importance of personal commitment, compassion and a drive to help. When you make a donation to the Kinark Foundation, you join with dedicated volunteers and professionals across Ontario to bring hope to children and families facing desperate struggles. You, too, "make it happen".