I started volunteering with Tropicana just a few months after I had arrived in Canada, from Nairobi, Kenya.
I found Tropicana’s ad for volunteers on Indeed, while looking for career opportunities in my new country. My first-time volunteering was at a clothes event, which was a great opportunity for an introduction into Canadian society while also contributing to it.
I’ve been volunteering for a year now, starting in 2023. Over time, the responsibilities have changed. I’ve been helping at the food bank, packing, and delivering the food. I also volunteer at events. There’s a lot to do to support Tropicana staff, and you can help in many ways.
I gained communication skills. As a newcomer to Canada, I got to speak English more often. I learned how to communicate with people effectively, and this made me more confident. I approached volunteering with curiosity, trying to understand the perspective of people I was working with or helping, so along with communications skills, I gained customer service skills. And finally, considering Tropicana operates on a very tight schedule, I also developed crucial time management skills.
The most rewarding part of volunteering is getting to see first-hand the impact Tropicana has in the community. Being on the front lines as a volunteer, I get to see the people Tropicana is helping, and I have the chance to directly interact and converse with them. Working as a team, with Tropicana staff is another rewarding aspect of volunteering.
Volunteering with Tropicana provides me with a fresh perspective, one you can’t necessarily get from regular, remunerated work. It answers a key question: What can I bring to Canadian society, to my community?
If asked, why do I think others should volunteer for Tropicana? I have a double answer to this question. To a recent immigrant, I would say volunteering for Tropicana is a great way to get to understand Canadian life, to integrate, and to contribute to your new community. And for anyone more established in Canadian life, I’d say volunteering with Tropicana is a great way to gain a new perspective. You get to meet people from all over the world. It’s also a chance to connect with the Black community and enjoy its full cultural richness, from the Caribes, Africa, the Americas … it’s about discovering a diversity of people and experiences.
When I came to Canada, I was in the typical loophole of integration—it’s hard to integrate if you don’t have a job, and hard to have a job if you are not yet integrated in society. Tropicana was the answer to that loophole. I discovered a great team, made up of staff and volunteers like me. Tropicana made me feel at home. I got to be productive and to receive feedback that helped me find my place in the community.
I keep coming back to Tropicana because it feels like home, it’s like visiting sisters and brothers, we can all relate. Tropicana is like a family that you always look forward to spending time with. I am sure anyone joining Tropicana as a volunteer would enjoy the same experience.
