Volunteer Spotlight: Shaista

Our next spotlight features Shaista, one of our youngest volunteers who is currently working towards completing her high school diploma...

Throughout the summer, Shaista volunteered with SAGE and continues to participate in our Companion Calls project. She did calls with seniors at The O’Neill Centre over the summer and will continue to reach out to residents at the Rekai Centre in Toronto this winter. During her conversations with residents at The O’Neill Centre, she shared her artwork, told them about her aspirations to work as a therapist and comforted them with her positive attitude and compassion. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Shaista was adamant on volunteering at a long-term care facility. Unfortunately, non-essential visits, including volunteer services, remain on hold at long-term care homes. This inspired Shaista to volunteer virtually and join our team of dedicated volunteers to keep residents connected through calls. We thank Shaista for supporting the elderly community and for volunteering her time to reduce isolation in long-term care during the pandemic!