The Strength of a Friendly Heart
Written by Saudah M., Circle of Care Volunteer Writer
By choosing to be present in our communities as volunteers, we support seniors through programs that address real and immediate needs. Initiatives like Meals on Wheels help combat food insecurity by delivering nutritious meals, while Phone Pals fosters connection through regular check-in calls that reduce social isolation. While many volunteers meet with clients directly, others—like Sufia Arshad—work behind the scenes to support our programs, making a meaningful difference for both the seniors we serve and the organization as a whole.
Since March 2025, Sufia has been volunteering in an administrative role at Circle of Care. Sufia believes that volunteers are essential in building connections and spreading compassion within a community. As a business student at York University, Sufia continues to put her belief in practice by making Circle of Care’s volunteer programs more efficient in our processes and data management. This plays a significant role in bringing capable volunteers into the program and making sure they are supported and well-informed.
Creating Joy from the Mundane
On a typical day, Sufia supports the volunteer recruitment and onboarding by responding to emails, tracking applications, preparing updates, and communicating with volunteers. Sufia especially enjoys the detail-oriented, meticulous tasks of data entry and record keeping, bringing care and precision to her work. Volunteering is an opportunity for students like her to build skills and give back to their community—forming a basis of connections and experience that will help them in their future careers.
Sufia cherishes the lessons in collaboration and teamwork that she’s experienced with Circle of Care over the past few months. In a fast-paced and busy environment, she finds comfort in knowing that she can rely on others: “I’m grateful that I have great team members and colleagues who are always willing to give me a hand and share tasks. I feel at ease asking them questions or picking their brains about anything.”
A Warm and Friendly Work Culture
Sufia notes the work culture is incredibly friendly and social, which has made the team celebrations and events even more precious occasions. She highlights the recent Halloween event where she connected with team members from different departments within Circle of Care. When Sufia gets to see members of the community and the organization together, she loves the infectious energy it creates.
Most of all, Sufia appreciates connecting with her fellow volunteers. During her breaks, she checks in with them, has little chats, and invites them to get lunch or coffee together. She loves the moments when she can connect with clients and volunteers one-on-one at social events and gatherings, allowing her to put faces to the names in the files she oversees.
Teamwork Benefits a Community
Sufia’s own journey has been shaped by a reminder to be true to herself and open-minded—a piece of advice she also recommends to new volunteers. She has found great strides in taking the time to explore different roles within a community, all while stepping out of her comfort zone.
Over the past year, Sufia has become more confident and open. She might have felt shy when she started, but now, she looks forward to her weekly chats and interactions with her team. In addition to her admin role, she also contributes to the Meals on Wheels team, where Circle of Care delivers more than 280,000 meals every year. Sufia is eager to grow even further in a volunteer capacity and hopes to gain more experience and skills at Circle of Care. In the future, Sufia aspires to continue being adventurous and to explore more opportunities to gain hands-on experience within the business sector.
Sufia’s contribution is a great example of how diverse skills play a critical role in helping our organization better serve the senior community. By applying their academic knowledge and personal strengths in practical ways, volunteers help build a strong foundation that supports seniors in living healthier, more connected lives. Students also gain hands-on experience, build meaningful connections, and grow their skills while volunteering us.
Whether working directly with seniors or supporting operations behind the scenes, each volunteer’s efforts help strengthen the work we do every day—demonstrating that when diverse skills come together, our organization is better equipped to foster dignity, independence, and well-being at every stage of aging.
Learn more about volunteering with Circle of Care by visiting our Volunteer webpage.
