Moments matter. Each and every moment, action, conversation and connection made through volunteering makes a significant impact for the causes we all care about. We sat down with volunteer Shelley Marchand recently to discuss what this really means to her. Shelley’s passion and drive reverberated through the small café as we chatted over coffee. She has been a long-time supporter of local charities in Niagara and after her recent retirement, she felt a strong desire to fill her time through giving back in other ways.

Each and every moment, action, conversation and connection made through volunteering makes a significant impact for the causes we all care about.

Shelley began giving to United Way after a colleague asked her to give, back in 1990 and she’s been a loyal donor since. “It was an easy yes for me. I began with modest annual contributions, so it was easy to continue over the years,” she recalled. Shelley’s journey has come full circle as she is driven by the motto “just ask” – funny how a simple question ‘will you give’ is how it started for her too.

Shelley Marchand with fellow Women United volunteers, Sandy Howe, Louise Goller, May Simpson and Mel Groom at the Post Foods Cereal Sale in October.

Shelley, a 37-year veteran in her field, ran her own successful physiotherapy practice for more than 30 years. “Anyone who knows that type of work, knows how busy your days are,” she said. “Once I retired, I needed to fill a big gap and volunteering was a great way to do that.” She retired in 2018, took a year to just enjoy life and then decided to begin volunteering. When the pandemic hit, she found a meaningful role volunteering with Niagara Region Public Health vaccine clinics. After that she moved on to Canada Summer Games. “Both volunteer experiences were great, but once those were finished, I knew I needed something more, something bigger.”

“Once I retired, I needed to fill a big gap and volunteering was a great way to do that.”

It seemed like fate when she was invited to a United Way event the day following her final shift as a Summer Games volunteer. “I was inspired to join the newly formed Women United committee that night and haven’t looked back.”

But it was a short time later that things really shifted for Shelley. After a moving presentation about preventing youth homelessness by Mike Lethby, Executive Director of The RAFT, a United Way supported agency, and a subsequent conversation, Shelley’s eyes were opened to a new possibility.

“I approached Mike after his talk and said to him ‘I want to help Mike, what I can do?!’” His response hit like a ton of bricks, she remembers. He told her, “Shelley, what we need is funding. Funding, so we can hire the professionals that support these kids – funding to do the work that makes such an impact.” “That hit me hard. I had never fundraised, nor did I consider myself a fundraiser, but I was driven to raise the much-needed funds that support agencies like The RAFT. I remembered my colleague then, all she did was ask me to give to United Way – a simple question – and I realized I could do that too. So that’s what I do now, just ask.”

“I approached Mike after his talk and said to him ‘I want to help Mike, what I can do?!’” His response hit like a ton of bricks, she remembers. He told her, “Shelley, what we need is funding. Funding, so we can hire the professionals that support these kids – funding to do the work that makes such an impact.” “That hit me hard.”

Shelley has been a driving force raising funds behind the scenes, as a member of the Women United Committee and the 2023 Campaign Cabinet. Her drive and motivation to support fundraising is essential to United Way achieving its goals. “I loved my time as a cabinet member, every meeting was like a crash course in the needs of the community. I always left feeling a renewed sense of determination to do better,” she said. “I felt inspired by the other volunteers too. I was surrounded by people with my shared love for community. They are all wonderful role models.”

Women United volunteers Shelley Marchand, Nancy Francis and Anne Kirkpatrick at the Vineland Garden Hub.

Shelley continues to increase her financial support too. “I have been a supporter of United Way for 34 years now, something I am proud of. I made the decision to focus my giving to make a bigger impact, United Way lets me do that. I know my gift is helping people. As a donor, and a volunteer, I also know that without fundraising, these programs that so many rely on, simply don’t exist. So that drives me. It’s the funding that is desperately needed. I will always remember that conversation with Mike Lethby and be reminded, the needs of people are complex and they need supports that the average person (volunteer) can’t necessarily offer. We need to let the agencies and the professionals do what they do, and if I can support that, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Shelley’s drive and passion to make Niagara better for everyone is easy to see. Her tireless work to spread the word, ‘just ask’ and support United Way shines bright. United Way was honoured to present Shelley with the very well-deserved 2023 Anita Robertson Legacy Award last month.

Shelley Marchand, with Board Chair Pam Lilley and CEO Frances Hallworth, receiving the Anita Robertson Legacy Award at the Campaign Celebration Breakfast in March.