Mac volunteers get involved and give back to the Hamilton community

April 15 – 21 is National Volunteer Week. Organized by Volunteer Canada, it’s an opportunity to celebrate and thank Canada’s 12.7 million volunteers, and a chance to inspire others to consider volunteering in the community.

Every day, McMaster students, faculty, alumni and staff give back to the Hamilton community through their volunteerism. Meet three of the many members of the McMaster community who are making a difference:

Bryan Mehi,  Program Manager, Executive MBA program, DeGroote School of Business 

Mehi’s commitment to volunteerism began as a work-study student at McMaster. While studying Linguistics, he worked with McMaster’s Engagement & Wellness team, supporting events and employee-led committees, including United Way. After moving into a full-time role with the DeGroote School of Business, he says volunteering on the United Way committee was a natural fit.

“I opted to volunteer for a couple of reasons: I had seen first-hand, and been inspired by, how the McMaster community rallies around that common goal; and I appreciate the work the United Way does in the broader Hamilton/Burlington/Halton community,” says Mehi who, for the past two years, has served as co-chair along with Nancy Gray, and has represented McMaster on the United Way Campaign Cabinet.

This year, the committee was even recognized as the United Way Outstanding Corporate Citizen of the Year.

“It may sound trite, but I volunteer simply because I enjoy helping others,” he says. “For me, McMaster’s United Way committee is a great way to offer broad charitable support while realizing tangible, close-to-home results.”

Patricia Saunders ’73, Faculty of Social Sciences

Saunders, who first enrolled at McMaster as a mature student in the School of Social Work, has maintained a life-long commitment to women and mental health, a commitment that is reflected in her volunteerism.

Besides being a founding, charter member of the first Women’s Centre in Hamilton, she was an active member of the City of Hamilton Status of Women Committee and the first woman to become Chair of the Hamilton-Wentworth Police Services Board. She also was a founding member of Hamilton branches of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Friends of Schizophrenics and Women’s Centre.

“Since the ‘60’s when I started volunteering through my children’s involvement – although now not a fan of President John F. Kennedy – I very much practiced what he coined, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,’” she says. “I have always felt that I get more than I give and that is why I am always trying to catch up. Having completed more than 50 years of service, I am still trying to catch up in spite of having said that I’m going to cut back.”

Saunders was recently named a recipient of the McMaster Alumni Hamilton Community Impact Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions by McMaster graduates to the Hamilton community.

Justin Brunet, Master’s student, Medical Sciences program

For the past year, Brunet, a second year Master’s student, has been volunteering at Pathways to Education, a tutoring program for at-risk high school students at North Hamilton Community Health Centre, assisting with homework and assignments, and also providing mentorship and social support for students.

Brunet began volunteering with Pathways through his involvement in Student Open Circles, a group that provides support and guidance to McMaster students, and helps provide them with opportunities to make a difference in the community.

“Helping and interacting with the same students every week has been extremely rewarding,” he says. “ Knowing that students, who may not have a mentor at home or school, are excited to see you at Pathways and specifically ask for your tutoring help is heartwarming. I have seen several students grow academically and emotionally over the past year that I would not have otherwise seen if volunteering inconsistently – it’s an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything.”

Looking for volunteer OPPORTUNITIES?

At McMaster, there are many ways for students, faculty, staff and alumni to give back to the community:

• Students can start by exploring volunteer opportunities through the Student Success Centre, McMaster Students Union (MSU) clubs, and Student Open Circles
• Volunteer and service opportunities include the TMG Day of Service – which will take place at McQuesten Urban Farm on May 25 – and the McMaster Alumni MacServe program.
• Volunteer opportunities can also be found through community organizations like  Beautiful Alleys  which is hosting their Spring Cleanup on April 21. Contact hamiltonalleys@gmail.com to learn more.
• Stewards of Cootes Watershed  is holding spring clean ups in the Red Hill and Cootes Paradise watersheds starting May 12th. Learn more.
• To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact McMaster’s Office of Community Engagement.