Profiles in Compassion: Lori Shields

Following a break from serving community meals at St. Christopher’s Anglican Church “Open Doors” and caring for aging parents, Lori was seeking ways to return to community help and felt volunteering at Compassion Society would be the right fit for her. Her first day, in June of this year, found her shadowing an experienced volunteer assisting clients shopping for groceries and clothing.

She found her fellow volunteers very welcoming and friendly, and Lori was immediately impressed by the dedication and interaction of staff at CSH who oversee the complexity of an organization that keeps 4 staff and 135 volunteers efficiently coordinated to serve up to 350 Halton households with food, clothing and extended outreach services every week.

Lori enjoys the interaction with clients, getting to know them and their families, and understanding what brings them to us so we can help further the feeling of familial connection. She finds rewarding moments in her weekly volunteering at Compassion Society which provides her with the fulfillment of giving back to our community.

The variety of duties related to fulfilling our client services means that no matter the career background, experience or skill level of our volunteers, the opportunity exists to try many roles in finding rewarding and satisfying work with Compassion Society.

Recently retired from the medical field, Lori now enjoys fitness classes at the Burlington Seniors Centre, crocheting gift items as fundraisers for Joseph Brant Hospital and as part of the excellent volunteer team at Compassion Society.