JOIN US
Few things in life are as rewarding as knowing you have done something in a very tangible way to help someone less fortunate than yourself.
You can experience that feeling by becoming a Compassion Society Volunteer.
Our volunteers are the backbone of our charity. Duties range from sorting clothing, assisting clients with finding items, setting up, cleaning, distributing food, stocking shelves and administrative tasks.
We hope you’ll consider becoming one of our volunteers. You’ll be doing something REALLY worthwhile!
It was late 2018 and we were busy getting ready for the holiday season when Rudy Peternelj dropped in at the store. He came to make a donation, a sizable donation.
Mr. Peternelj owns and operates Industry Diesel & Turbo Service, a business started by Rudy’s father Albin Peternelj exactly 50 years ago! The founder, who proudly claims 86 years of age, still comes to work every day!
Industry Diesel & Turbo is Canada's largest re-manufacturer and distributor of turbochargers, fuel injectors, and fuel pumps. Over 20,000 sq.ft. of manufacturing space is dedicated to diesel fuel systems.
This is the second major donation by Rudy and his company. Compassion Society is especially grateful for his support.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
Volunteer Spotlight
Evelyn
Monday, Wednesday, or Friday – no matter which day one visits Compassion Society when it first opens, Evelyn Howard will be working at the food section, ready to serve clients. By the noon-time opening, she has already been there three hours, preparing for the day...
Jocelyne
Jocelyne Okens, who has volunteered at Compassion Society since October 2016, is a “people person” who all her life has found ways to help others. She was the oldest in a family of 14 children from a village in northwestern Quebec, where her parents owned two general stores where she worked while growing up...
Gilbert
If you see the Compassion Society van on Burlington streets Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, it is almost certain Gilbert Deveer is behind the wheel. Gil, as he is know by those of us who work with him, has been a Compassion Society volunteer since April 2011, and after four months
he became the regular driver of the van.
Tiina
At the end of May 2019 Compassion Society bade farewell to a dear friend and valued volunteer, Tiina MacLeod, who after seven years of service with the Society is moving to Wasaga Beach, Ontario.
Back in 2012 Tiina took an early retirement when the company she worked for, Torham Packaging in Stoney Creek, was purchased by an American buyer and the site where she worked was closed. She soon decided to do volunteer work in Burlington and selected Compassion Society.
Lynn
Walk through the front door of Compassion Society, and the first person you see may be Lynn Bednarsky, who often greets and registers clients at the front desk. She works every Friday, many Mondays, and other times when needed.
Lynn, who retired eight years ago after twenty-seven years with CIBC, has lived in Burlington since 1989.
Roger
One of Compassion Society’s older volunteers is 77-year-old Roger Grist, a native of Bexley, England, who first came to Canada 53 years ago. Roger is a Registered Nurse who trained in England. When he came to Canada he worked for three years in Burlington’s Joseph Brant Hospital, which had just opened.
Julie
Julie began volunteering at Compassion Society four years ago when she was looking for a service project for 36 girls, ages 9-11, that she was leading at the time. The girls not only donated their own surplus clothing, but many of them also collected additional items from friends and family. She has continued to volunteer here since then.