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Thank you for your interest in volunteer opportunities at the Caring and Sharing Exchange! You are our most valuable resource and therefore we rely on hundreds of individuals, groups and businesses to help us meet our goal of helping those in need over the holiday season. As a volunteer, you can help in many ways from performing general office duties such as phone calls to donors, envelope stuffing and data entry, to assisting at special fundraising events as well as packing food hampers and hamper delivery a few days before Christmas. If a five year old boy can volunteer, so can you!

Hold your own fundraiser!

**Why Max Keeping and volunteers share their time!**

Mom Says “He May Be Young, But He’s Happy When He Gives Big”

What triggered five-year-old Isaac to join his mother Allison in volunteering?

I have always quietly been involved in my community and Isaac is very sensitive to others’ needs.

Even though he is the second youngest in a family of 5, he is very responsive to the happiness of his siblings. “I don’t like people being sad,” he said. “I like helping, and making people happy!”

September was a turning point for Isaac. He came home from school looking worried and upset. He heard that some kids don’t have the necessary stuff to go to school.

When asked how he would feel if he was one of them he said “I would feel sad and embarrassed. I would be worried the other kids will tease and make fun of me.”

But he knew how to fix the situation! With a little help from mom and a trip to the store, he gathered school supplies to be donated to other kids.

I’m happy to see the Caring and Sharing Exchange growing to accommodate the changing times.

I feel that the Sharing In Student Success program will give children the chance to be “all that they can be” by the sheer comfort of having the same opportunities as their peers, with the same school essentials.

This past Christmas, we also helped with packing hampers, breaking down boxes, and sorting food.

Isaac was a hands-on little man. He rolled up his sleeves and distributed every single can of hot chocolate with Mayor Watson, with only one quick cupcake break!

It means a lot to me, doing my part no matter how small. And I can see Isaac happy to be himself: caring, considerate and giving.

— Allison Darke
Mother of 5 year old Isaac

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Sept 2011 — At the umbrella name
unveiling, Isaac ran to the front
— to everyone’s surprise — to
give Mayor Jim Watson a backpack
for the new program: Sharing in
Student Success.

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Dec 2011 — Allison Darke, Isaac, Mayor
Jim Watson and Councillor Maria McRae
packing food hampers for the Christmas
Exchange Program.