By Jack Brittle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
From a young age, Kimberly Calderbank has always been a volunteer.
During high school, Calderbank was a member of a youth group that organized soup kitchens and food drives, as well as volunteering at a local summer camp.
“I really got the bug quite early on,” Calderbank said. “And it’s something that I’m trying to now inspire in my kiddos to get them involved in the community and to give back as well. So it’s always been a part of who I am.”
In the summer of this year, Calderbank was recognized by the City of Burlington for her volunteer work.
She talked about the impact that volunteer work can have on the community, which some people might not be fully aware of.
“I would have been young when I started, so I don’t know if I could really understand the impact that giving back and volunteering in your community could make,” Calderbank said. “And I think that’s why I’m so persistent about my kids being involved now, to sort of talk them through it because I think a lot of people volunteer, or help out and maybe don’t realize the impact they’re actually having in the community.”
Calderbank also spoke about the personal benefit that volunteer work can have, explaining that she received a Lions Club award, and a Rotary award and scholarship towards her university fees.
She said that when deciding what organization or cause to lend your time to, it’s important to choose something that you are already passionate about.
“I often get asked, ‘How do you find the opportunities?’, and I mean, there’s tons of resources for that,” Calderbank said. “We have a Halton resource [Volunteer Halton] that you can log into at any time to see what volunteer opportunities are available. But I think one of the important things is to find something that you’re passionate about and that speaks to you because then you’ll be that much more involved and interested in what you’re doing and the impact that you’re making.”
Calderbank also said that she understands that it is a privilege to be able to have the time to volunteer, but that if you can afford it, you can not only create change in the community but also create long-lasting personal connections.
“I’ve met so many friends along the way, and I think that it just truly opens up your community when you volunteer,” Calderbank said.
“People set aside their workout and self-care time,” she continued. “This is part of my self-care. This is part of the agenda that I create for myself, on a weekly basis.”
Calderbank also said that if you don’t have the time to dedicate weekly or monthly to volunteering, there are many annual events that require volunteers.
“Sound of Music is a great example,” Calderbank said. “Hundreds of volunteers are needed to make that festival happen, and the shifts are as short as an hour to two hours. So if you can give that little to something that makes that much impact on your community, it truly does open up a whole new world of friends and community to you.”
Calderbank has served as the chair of the Central Public School’s Parent Council since 2015, as well as the president of the Burlington Aquatic Double Race. She is also a member of 100 Women Who Care Burlington, a philanthropic women’s organization. She volunteers every Thursday at Open Doors for their Senior Meal program.
“A lot of my volunteering right now comes through my kids’ schools, and their sporting teams,” Calderbank said. “My daughter’s a dancer and a swimmer, and my son is a swimmer. So a lot of my volunteer hours are currently aligned with what my kids are involved in as well.”
Calderbank also hosts a show on YourTV Halton called Community Cultures, which showcases not-for-profits and community partners.
“It’s taking my business, marketing, public relations, and what I do for a living, and really turning it into an outlet for the folks that we showcase on the show to have an opportunity to talk about what they do in the community and all the good that they bring,” Calderbank said.
Calderbank spoke about what the recognition from the city means to her.
“That’s probably one of the biggest honours I’ve received,” she said. “What’s really lovely is that it was my dad’s idea to nominate me, so it’s very personal as well. And it’s funny because, we sat down together and he said, ‘Okay, so where are all of the things that you’re doing right now?’ And we made a list together and he’s like, ‘Gosh, I didn’t even know you did a quarter of these things.’”
“So it was really, a lovely recognition, and actually really inspiring just to make me want to do more and to ensure that I’m keeping up now with the standards that I’ve set for myself for giving back and being involved,” Calderbank continued.
Calderbank also spoke about the importance of getting youth involved in volunteering.
“There’s a lot of organizations that do a really great job, like the Gift of Giving Back is a wonderful example of an organization that is purely set up to engage kids and young athletes in giving back to their community and understanding the importance of food security and things like that,” Calderbank said.
Calderbank said that there is a need for younger citizens to take over the volunteer roles that are currently held by seniors.
“When I volunteer at the seniors’ lunch, the majority of the volunteers in the kitchen are our seniors,” she said. “So it’s about trying to get some fresh faces and some younger folks to do some of the more able-bodied or strength-requiring jobs.”
“It’s just a matter of sitting down and thinking about what your family is interested in,” Calderbank continued. “There’s community gardens, there’s food programs where you can go and prep, there’s meals in the evenings that you can go and serve at. There’s always something. It’s just a matter of finding what works for you in the time that you’re able to give.”
Calderbank told a story about a time when she and her son volunteered at a meal service.
“On the drive there, I was explaining to him that some folks are going to be at this dinner because they need community or they’re looking for a sense of fellowship or connectivity but that other people will be here because they truly just haven’t had enough to eat or need the resources,” Calderbank said. “So we’re all set up at the dessert station and we’re ready to go, and doesn’t a family from his school walk in with a kid from his class, and his face is just like, ‘Whoa’. He was shocked. But he said, ‘I’m gonna be right back.’ And he ran over, grabbed them and took them to a table, and ended up sitting with them and having dinner with them.”
“On the drive home, he was super quiet,” she continued. “And then he says, ‘Mom, do you think they were there because they didn’t have enough to eat?’ And I said, ‘I don’t know, buddy. But that’s very possible.’ But what a great understanding for you to have, right? To understand that everybody in your class does not have the same resources that you have. And I just think if I weren’t volunteering with my kids, there’s no way I could have them understand the makeup of the community or just how lucky they are. Those are things that aren’t taught in school, that you don’t have the opportunity to really teach your kids unless they’re experiencing it.”
Calderbank said that she believes that the experiences that her son had with volunteering shaped him into the person that he is today.
“He always wants to volunteer and he’s always looking to help,” Calderbank said. “He’s very kind-hearted and has this completely different understanding of the makeup of the world that he wouldn’t have, had he not experienced that.”
Calderbank said she isn’t concerned about a lack of volunteering among the next generation.
“It’s funny because when I’m interviewing people for Community Cultures and I’m talking about, ‘Why are you a volunteer here? Why do you sit on the board here?’ People over and over say, ‘It feeds my soul,’” Calderbank said. “‘It fuels me to want to do better and to be better.’ And if we can get enough people catching that bug, I’m not worried.”
Correction notice: this article has been corrected to reflect the fact that Kimberly Calderbank is a member of 100 Women Who Care, rather than a board member. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.
