by Janet Lees
At some point during almost every Grassroots Heroes interview, that word is bound to flow spontaneously from the mouth of the interviewee. In fact, in eight years of On The Bay’s annual salute to Grassroots Heroes, I can safely say that “passion” is the single word that links together the many and varied people, from different walks of life and committed to a wide range of different causes, who go above and beyond to make a difference in our community.
Our Grassroots Heroes are leaders. Champions. They feel so passionate about a particular cause, they motivate and inspire others to get behind it, whether by rolling up their shirtsleeves or writing a cheque. These champions commit wholeheartedly, with no expectation of a pat on the back or an ‘attaboy.’ Their only reward is the personal satisfaction of knowing they will leave the world a little better than they found it.
In professional life, there’s that old saying, “find something you love and figure out a way to get paid for it.” But people who volunteer aren’t getting paid. All the more reason finding the right fit is important. And a big part of that is finding something you’re passionate about, whether that’s gardening or running, preserving our cultural or architectural heritage, saving a beloved local landmark or creating a new one.
All of our Grassroots Heroes started out as volunteers, in some cases putting in a few hours here and there before turning up the volume on their efforts. We want to inspire more volunteers. More champions. More heroes. So in addition to our annual salute to Grassroots Heroes, we bring you a story by Judy Ross about the benefits of volunteering and how to find the right fit, followed by a comprehensive listing of organizations throughout Southern Georgian Bay that are in need of volunteers.
Not sure if you’re ready? Not sure you have enough time? No matter how much or how little you think you have to offer, there is an organization that would benefit from having you on its team.
Find something you love. Something you believe in. Something you feel good about. Then take that first step. Make the call. ❧
