Christine, Friend of the Family Award Winner
Our Friend of the Family Individual Award winner, Christine Harty, provided us with a heartfelt speech in acceptance of the award, and we were moved by her beautiful words. Please enjoy her speech, reproduced below, as an entry into #LethbridgeFamilyStories
And if you would like to become one of our volunteer heroes like Christine, visit LfSfamily.ca/volunteer for more info!
"I am very honoured and humbled to receive this award. All volunteers have a desire to help make the transition of newcomers to Canada a little bit easier, so I am no different than each one of them.
For the last 4.5 years, I have walked alongside five different immigrant families. Some come from horrific situations, such as war-torn countries, extreme poverty, or oppression. They have come to Canada seeking a place where they can be safe and have a better life, especially for their children.
Two of my matches have been single moms with young children. I am constantly amazed at their strength and resilience as they try to navigate a country where they don’t know the language, they don’t know the school system or the health system, and they don’t know the culture. Everything is new, nothing is familiar, they have no family, no support system, and are doing it alone.
I try to put myself in the shoes of those young moms, and how scary it must be to provide for their family with no one to share the load.
That is why I am a volunteer with LFS Immigrant Services. My heart is to walk with newcomers, help them in day-to-day life, be there when they are struggling, and to share in the joys of life.
It is the little things in life that are the most special, things like decorating a Christmas tree for the very first time, teaching the girls to bake cookies, or being in the backyard blowing bubbles (which encourages laughter and giggles and fun). Those are the special memories that help them feel like they’re part of the community and that they’re loved and cared for. And the bonus, I get to learn about their culture too.
Being a volunteer means to walk alongside individuals and families, to develop relationships where I can help them feel welcome, feel safe, and solve problems as they learn about living here, and for them to become successful and independent in the process.
My experience is that when a match ends, our relationship doesn’t end. We have developed a special friendship that can not end. Those families have become extended family to my husband and I. It has been a huge blessing."
