Cheryl Galandie wants to teach people and, in return, learn from the people she teaches.
From childhood, she wanted to be a social worker. Combining this passion with an interest in mental health, Cheryl’s worked for the last 13 years with Community Volunteer Connections as the Mental Health Support Coordinator. In this role, she works with Fraser Health, managing the volunteer program at the Lodges, on the Riverview grounds in Coquitlam, and the Timber Creek Facility in Surrey.
What does the Mental Health Support Coordinator do?
The most important thing, says Cheryl, is to build relationships with the clients. Her role involves recruiting and training volunteers to work with the clients at the Lodges and Timber Creek. She teaches them to build those vital relationships.
She also works with her clients to get to know them and help them understand what the volunteers do. Volunteers help clients with playing a giant Jenga game, bingo, take walks, makes cards for special occasions, help with Facebook and email, among other interesting activities designed for learning and enjoyment!
Success Stories With Clients
When asked what she considers success stories with clients, she describes how, during her first two weeks at her job, she was meeting with staff to learn about her new role when she met a client who she engaged in conversation. What Cheryl remembers with a laugh is how the conversation ended with the woman saying to her “Thank you lady, we’ll be great friends”!
Success Stories With Volunteers
She also shares her successful experience with amazing volunteer, Jozef. He came to Cheryl with an interest in volunteering with the mental health programs, yet didn’t have any experience. His dream was to become a social worker! Cheryl asked him to “do his homework” by reading and learning all he could about mental health and the diagnosis. Typically, a volunteer stays with the Lodges or Timber Creek for a period of six months. Jozef stayed for one and a half years, before becoming the shift team lead, a paid position. His compassion for the program allowed him to assist with training volunteers, teaching leadership skills and build confidence with the volunteers and clients Today, Cheryl and Jozef have remained friends, Cheryl even attended Jozef’s wedding.
Would you like to become a mental health volunteer?
If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer in the mental health program, Cheryl advises that volunteers must be age 19+ and commit to a six-month period, volunteering four hours per week. It’s a volunteer opportunity that’s suited best for people wanting to pursue a career working with people; nursing, occupational therapy, counselling, social work or medicine for, example. Proof of vaccination is required.
If you’d like more information about mental health volunteer work, please email Cheryl at: cgalandie@volunteerconnections.ca She would love to hear from you!
Carey
Coordinator of Volunteer Resources
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