Gary Thandi, Thanks for Doing Some Good!
What inspires you to volunteer?
A believe strongly that the more connected a community, the healthier that community. There are so many people who are struggling and need help, and I have the background (experience/education) to do something about it. I can donate my skill sets in ways that some people may donate money
Which cause(s) are you most passionate about and why?
Addiction, mental health and family support to vulnerable families for those who cannot afford private services, as well as those who are underserved (i.e. diverse communities). Languages; we can provide services in: English, Arabic, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, Korean, Farsi, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Spanish, French, Japanese, Khmer and Portuguese.
What impact have you seen the organization(s) you work with, and their volunteers, make in the community?
We have been able to help thousands, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive
What support is needed by the organization(s) and how can people learn more or get involved?
Moving Forward is seeing about 1000 clients per week and receives about 30 new referrals and self-referrals per week. It is meeting a huge community need that would otherwise go unmet. Many children, youth, adults, seniors and families would suffer if it weren’t for Moving Forward Family Services. All services are currently being provided without any government funding. Our Registered Clinical Counsellors receive referrals and free space, and in exchange they volunteer their time to provide supervision to intern; thus, we are self-contained and do not require funding to maintain our services. Having said that, we can stretch the money we receive given our very low costs. So donations are welcome. Equally welcome are volunteers interested in supporting us .
Is there a person, organization or good company (e.g. employer) you would like to recognize that has helped support you to make a difference?
There are many socially conscious organizations out there, and I welcome working with as many of them as possible. We have numerous partnerships – we have 15-20 partnerships, and operate out of numerous partner sites. •