E080 Kate Flanagan Volunteering is Fulfilling
Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 80
Date: August 8, 2023
Participants: Elise Seifert, Sheila Webster, Cameron Earnshaw and John Webster
Guest: Kate Flanagan
Start Times and Segments:
[0:00:35] What’s On Your Mind: We continue our India travel series. Elise and Sheila tell us about their experiences in the ancient and holy city of Varanasi. They also had quite a surprise when they boarded their train after the visit.
[0:15:17] Expanding Minds Interview: [Social Wellness] It’s great to give back to the community and get involved. We interview Kate Flanagan, an active volunteer who helps a broad range of people. She talks about her motivation to help. She describes what she does, how she heard about and connected with volunteer groups, and what training looked like. Kate learns so much. She gets as much out of it as she gives. There are many opportunities, from supporting the homeless, to giving those in need access to food and supplies, to connecting people to resources, and more. Mamas for Mamas prom clothing drive is an example of an innovative idea that helped kids find enjoy the prom experience.
[0:31:24] Adventures of the Starving Artist: Cameron’s teaching job is transitioning to more of a managerial position, which is something he never expected. It’s time to put on another new hat, adding another ball in the air to his juggling routine.
[0:34:38] Move That Body: Enjoyable pool activities other than swimming.
[0:39:23] Running Popup: What makes John feel alive changed after he started exercising and eating better. What made him “feel alive” before seems artificial now that he can actually feel his body coming to life during and after exercise.
[0:41:13] Flipside of the Coin: Sheila had concerns about the impact of fireworks on the environment and on animals. We got even more concerned after reading articles that told us more about the dangers. As much as we love a great fireworks show, we think it’s time to transition to something else.
Quotes and Take-Aways:
Kate – The reason I wanted to get involved was because of the large homeless population I was seeing, and knowing how increase in drug use was affecting so many people. I wasn’t’ doing anything to help it. I didn’t feel like I was doing something to help.
Sheila – We should get involved and hopefully get people interested in volunteering, because it’s great to be out there and to learn so much from different volunteer groups and to know that they’re out there.
Kate – It’s a fill the gap approach. If other organizations are already doing something, then we don’t need do that too. We connect people to different resources and fill the gaps in between.
Kate – I get into something because I have a passion for it, or I have a soft spot for it, but I learn so much every single time. I’m getting as much out of it as I’m giving.
Kate – I want to support people experiencing sexual assault or sexual violence, because it impacts people in such an extreme way.
Bulletin Board Quote brought to you by Cameron: I’m not a juggler or a hat collector.
Guest Information: Kate Flanagan was born and raised in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. She recently graduated from university of Waterloo. She majored in biomedical sciences and minored I human nutrition. She is an avid volunteer. She’s currently helping at Sanguen Health Center, at a nutrition and aging lab run by Professor Heather Keller and at Mamas for Mamas and at Sexual Assault Support Centre for Waterloo Region.
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Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-) Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila, Elise, Isabelle and Julie