Before she retired, Nina Halpern had the same thought whenever she would happen to drive past the Salvation Army Gateway of Hope in Langley, B.C.

“It’s a wonderful thing that it’s in our community, helping out people who we see on the streets, who we know need the help,” she says.

Seeing a Need

Then, in 2018, Nina retired from her job as an occupational therapist who worked with young children.

“I was looking for what I was going to do during the next chapter of my life, when I didn't have to go to work, and I definitely wanted to give back to the community,” she recalls.

The Gateway looked like it would be meaningful work to her.

“I made an appointment with the volunteer co-ordinator and she said the kitchen’s where they need the most help. So, I started helping out, and I came to really enjoy it.”

Helping People

For most of the last five years, the 68-year-old grandmother of three has devoted two days a week, four hours each morning, to working in the kitchen at the Gateway, helping prepare meals for people in need.

“Sometimes it’s food prep—a lot of chopping,” Nina explains. “I make a lot of sandwiches. I do breakfast shifts early in the morning. We do two servings to different groups and then after that, we clean up and I make a bunch of lunch bags for people to take away.”

Lately, due to a shortage of volunteers, she’s been coming in more often than usual.

“There’s never any question in your mind that by providing food, you are helping people,” she says. “You know, it’s not one of those situations where ‘I’m going to give money to this or that and maybe it’ll make a difference, maybe it won’t.’ You know that people need that meal and that it makes a difference in their day.”

“When People Come Together”

Nina encourages people to take up volunteering. “It’s a wonderful thing to do, something that you know is helping others and feels meaningful, and the people you’ll meet while you’re volunteering are some of the best people you’ll ever meet. They’re all good people who want to help others.”

Rachel Martin, volunteer co-ordinator at the Gateway, says people like Nina play an indispensable role.

“These dedicated individuals selflessly contribute their time, skills and energy for the service of others,” Rachel states.

“It is amazing to see what happens when people come together to help those who are in need. We are grateful for our volunteers, as we would not be able to do what we do without them, and we are always welcoming of more volunteers.”

Reprinted from Langley Advance Times,November 21, 2023

Photo: Special to Langley Advance Times

Dan Ferguson has worked for a variety of print and broadcast outlets in Canada and the United States, winning awards from the Pacific Northwest Society of Professional Journalists, Washington Press Association and a number of Canadian newspaper organizations.

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