Since we opened our doors in 1984, The Mustard Seed has been able to touch thousands of lives across Alberta and British Columbia. Our mission to support those experiencing poverty and homelessness in our communities has been made possible thanks to the efforts of our wonderful donors, sponsors, and volunteers.
This month, we would like to highlight one of our valued volunteers, Theo Nelson. Theo is currently a Biological Medicine major at the University of Calgary and is spending his summer researching alongside volunteering at The Mustard Seed. He and his family became volunteers in 2015, a fun opportunity to be with family while giving back to the community. Over the years, the significance of volunteering has deepened for the Nelson's.
“We’re all members of a community, and we have a responsibility to serve other people,” Theo said thoughtfully over our Zoom call. “It makes me happy to help others.”
Theo’s favourite part of volunteering with The Mustard Seed is spending time with the guests and getting to know the community members better. Of course, with the COVID-19 pandemic and social activities being suspended, fostering the same sense of community has been challenging.
However, he has been able to take on more responsibility for other initiatives offered by The Mustard Seed, including donation sorting as the pandemic further threatened neighbours in need. He feels that it’s extremely vital for everyone to give back to the community because it’s important to build an understanding of reality outside of our personal experiences.
“A lot of people don’t realize the actual reality of homelessness in Calgary,” Theo said, reflecting on his experiences in outreach. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to helping the community.”
Theo looks forward to continuing volunteering for The Mustard Seed and hopes to use what he has learned in outreach to help others in his personal and professional life.
To Theo, and all of our volunteers at The Mustard Seed, thank you for your unwavering dedication and support. We couldn't do it without you!
Click here to learn how you can volunteer at The Mustard Seed!
