…volunteering at Kairos has been a pathway…a place to learn new skills…
It takes a certain kind of person to stand in a queue and think, I could use this time to help others. The step from being a recipient of a service like the Kairos Free Store to an active contributor takes bravery, confidence, and self-belief. Luckily, Stephen has all these in spades.
Stephen first came to the Free Store as a customer to get his groceries. One day while lining up the thought crossed his mind - why stand outside in the queue when you can volunteer and do some good?
That thought led him to offer his time and skills to Kairos Food Rescue where he has worked for the past six months, alongside other volunteering roles. For him, it is not only a way to help out but also to gain meaningful work experience and keep his hospitality skills fresh, ready to re-enter the workforce.
On a personal level, Kairos Free Store has had an enormous impact on Stephen. He says the assistance with food, especially in the current cost of living crisis, means increased financial security and confidence in planning for the future.
From interacting with Kairos and coming here as a customer and now as a volunteer I’ve got savings in the bank for the first time in my adult life.
During his six months working at Kairos, Stephen has come to know the rest of the team well. One thing that stands out to him is their genuine care for the communities they work with.
“You could come in here and be the King of England or you could be the person that’s suffering from addiction and lives on the streets, you wouldn’t get treated any differently. Every single person here gets treated like gold. Every single person is respected.”
For Stephen, volunteering at Kairos has been a pathway to building a good reputation, a place to learn new skills, and an invitation into a community of people passionate about the same thing as him - making a difference with the time they have.
Written By Brittany Mackie