"Without the people that make up our community, we are nothing." That from Paul Peters, Executive Director of The Community Exchange. The Altona-based organization hosted a 'thank you' supper on Monday, recognizing the crucial role volunteers, donors and service partners play in making the organization what it is today.
"It's the volunteers that are really helping to bring to life some of the vision of who we are."
In 2024, volunteers logged well over 2,500 hours with the organization.
"(It's) people coming (and) serving others. Cleaning dishes, cleaning the space, setting up for different things, leading cafes and support groups. It's the volunteers that are really helping to bring to life some of the vision of who we are," said Peters.
And there's no sign in that momentum slowing down. According to Peters, TCE's volunteer list grew by 15 in the last two months, bringing the total number of people willing to lend a hand to 70.
"Most of those are people who have come here because they've need to use the services or they heard about us and, within a few weeks, they're coming and saying, 'can I volunteer? Can I be a part of this?' And so, it's this neat ownership that we're seeing from a volunteer level."
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Support is also increasing at the donor level with new and returning businesses, and individuals, coming forward. At the end of 2024, there were 28 businesses supporting the organization, double that of 2023. As well, there was a 30 per cent increase in individual donors.
"The funding is huge for us," noted Peters, adding it's what gives the TCE staff the ability to be responsive to some of the needs of our community. "Some of the natural things that happen within our building are pretty beautiful, and it's because people have entrusted some of their financial contributions with us and we appreciate that."
"It's in the little stories where you start to realize the impact."
As 2025 approaches the mid-way mark, Peters will be engaging in conversations with current donors to share with them the impact their contribution is having and inviting new donors to be a part of that.
"We could share numbers of how much food is going out. We could share numbers of the amount of people coming through our doors, (but) it's in the little stories where you start to realize the impact," he explained. "I can't share names, but it's the stories of where there's an individual who, maybe their partner doesn't have a job, and they run into someone who also came here. They were coming for a muffin (during Muffin Monday), they sit down and hear their story and say, 'we're hiring. Can I talk to your husband?' Later, that person has a job.
It's a connection that wouldn't have necessarily happened. It's those connections where individuals in certain parts of our community are connecting with individuals in a different part than they normally would have. Those connections are where the natural impact is happening."
Peters went on to say there was one individual that needed to raise a small amount of money in order to move into Manitoba Housing, and the community stepped up to help make it happen.
"They raised the money they needed, and they get to bring their family back together. It sounds small, but it's actually huge," he said.
Overall, Peters believes the real impact is that people are being seen.
"People who might have only had a small pocket of our community who knew who they were prior to this. Now, that pocket of impact and people who know them is significantly greater. And so, there's a feeling of maybe a greater sense of belonging within our community that they experience. I think the quality of life for the people that come into TCE has increased because of the experiences they have here," he explained.
Monday's taco fiesta was capped off with a fund-raising concert, open to the public, featuring Canadian singer-song writer, Jon Bryant.