Anne Marie Bailey: “All the best jobs are volunteer!”

22 May, 2024 | Profiles, Sara Riel

Anne Marie Bailey has been giving back to her community through volunteerism for decades, but her current role supporting volunteers at Sara Riel is very close to her heart. The educator, who is currently a resource teacher but spent many years working in specialized programs for those receiving supports in her community, has fallen in love with the atmosphere at Sara Riel.

“I’ve had the chance to work in a lot of schools and organisations in my career,” shares Bailey. “And I can say that Sara Riel is a really special place. The people are amazing, both the clients and the volunteers. This is unique. You don’t get this feeling in every workplace.”

With her vast volunteer and professional experience to support her, Bailey has taken on the task of helping volunteer services run smoothly at Sara Riel. “There’s been a lot of people involved in this work over the years, and I’m trying to streamline and organize our systems,” she explains. “There are many tasks to take care of when we bring on new volunteers, from orientation to understanding their interests and abilities, to getting paperwork and criminal record checks completed.”

Bailey is a big believer in random acts of kindness, and the power of saying hello to the people you meet while out and about. “You never know the difference a hello can make,” she says. “And that makes sense, as the Welcome Desk is our priority right now. When you walk into our building, you are greeted, no matter who you are. We want you to feel welcome right away.”

She has also brought some of her lived experience to her volunteer work at Sara Riel. “You’re not just a volunteer here, you’re part of a group of people who really care about each other,” Bailey reflects. “I was diagnosed with ADHD later in life, and I know that the best knowledge and support comes from those who have lived this experience. Here, we can talk about these things openly. Everyone has their baggage and we’re all trying to make it through. In the school system, it’s not necessarily something I would share, but here, I know I’m safe.”

That safety extends to all staff and volunteers. “It’s real, at Sara Riel, this sense of caring and compassion,” she continues. “A lot of us are here because we care about each other. It’s a busy environment, but there is always someone around to help out. Staff want to be here, truly, and they love what they’re doing. There’s lots of laughter and love in the halls.”

She’d love to see more people getting involved with Sara Riel. “I would absolutely recommend volunteering here,” Bailey says. “They’re never stagnant, they’re always branching out and looking for new opportunities to help in the community. I always say that all the best jobs are volunteer!”

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If you’d like to learn more about volunteering at Sara Riel or any other network organisations, please click here.

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