Every day at Bissell Centre, we are grateful for the inspiring support we receive from volunteers. Meg Bernard became acquainted with Bissell Centre while volunteering for the Grade 9 Leadership Class at Riverbend Junior High – with whom we have formed a long standing and successful partnership.
What makes Meg’s story so compelling is the dedication that she shows to her family and her community. She creates the space to volunteer despite the time demands of a young family affected by autism, spinal complications, tourette’s, OCD and herself – Parkinson’s disease. It is her drive and enthusiasm for a better future that motivates her to volunteer.
“When I see ‘Where Hope Finds Help’ it brings to mind the difficult times in my life when I have been clinging to hope and needed the help of others to come out on the other side. I have lived a comfortable life, but there are many times when I have needed help, kindness, forgiveness, love, and someone to lean on. When I look at the participants at Bissell Centre, I can see myself in them. We all need a place where our hope finds help.
I believe in Bissell Centre’s mission to ‘empower people to move from poverty to prosperity’. If I can use the gifts and talents that I have been blessed with to help empower the participants of Bissell Centre then I feel that I have made a worthwhile contribution to the community and have made a genuine difference in the world.”
Meg has made a remarkable difference in her community. In addition to her work with Riverbend Junior High, she provides entertainment at Bissell Centre events and plays a key role in the fundraising efforts for our upcoming Bissellebration Gala on May 5.
“I have been blessed with a great life and God gave me gifts and talents that I can use to help others. My goal is to use these gifts to help others find the same joy, safety, security and happiness that I am fortunate enough to have. I am grateful to have a place like Bissell Centre to help me on my journey to achieve these goals. I look forward to a long relationship with Bissell Centre.”