Joyce Brinkerhoff grew up in a small Alberta town near the Rocky Mountains and was raised by her parents to volunteer.
She hasn’t stopped making volunteering a family tradition ever since. “Early on, we helped my parents volunteer, then I did it on my own, then I took my kids, and now I’m taking my grandkids,” she said. “After COVID, my grandkids will probably take me to volunteer!”
Before moving to Kelowna with her husband in 1990, Joyce spent two years as a clown in a children’s production that toured the United States and Canada. Her lively enthusiasm was the strength and determined drive behind many community initiatives.
“My volunteer work is diverse—with an emphasis on advocacy,” Joyce said. “Mainly in the intercultural arena, community building, international humanitarian projects, my church and my school district.
“I am on the board of the Society of Hope, which promotes affordable housing. I am President of Global Citizen Events and represent the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. I volunteer at Metro helping with homelessness and have been part of the Journey Home Task Force. I also sit on the COLIP (Central Okanagan Local Immigration Partnership) committee and speak out on racism. I work with Hope for the Nations as Director of Children’s Programs in Mexico and Ghana. Locally, I also work with Food for Thought, the Harmony Day Committee for School District 23, and various other volunteer projects.”
Joyce’s long list of community involvements reflects the importance she places on volunteering. “Sometimes I’ve volunteered to be ‘useful’ or ‘appreciated’ or ‘giving back,’ but my deepest motivator is the love of God and how He teaches me to see every human being as someone of worth and worth, and it is my privilege to serve and be served,” Joyce said.
“Volunteering gives me a perspective on problems and life experiences that I wouldn’t otherwise have. I will never forget how impressive it was to look up from serving food in a homeless shelter when my three year old asked a very older man if he would read her one of her books and saw his face brighten as she was next sat and listened to him carefully read The Cat in the Hat. In that moment they loved each other with deep intention and joy. Real humanity.”
“Volunteering brings life, introduces me to wonderful people, and gives me meaning beyond my own limited perspective. Just do it! Find your passion and volunteer there.”
The VolunteerConnector helps volunteers to find their passion and areas of impact. To register, contact Emily at KCR Community Resources (emily@kcr.ca or www.kcr.ca). To meet with organizations and learn more about their programs, come to the Okanagan Volunteer Fair on September 18 from 10am to 2pm at the Parkinson Recreation Center.
Dorothee Birker is communications and development coordinator for KCR Community Resources.
volunteers
