Volunteer Profiles

Meet our Volunteers!

Meet Tonya!

Tonya’s journey with FACS began in 2007 when she married her husband and together, they decided to give back to their community and make a meaningful difference. What started as a shared mission has grown into a deeply personal commitment that now extends to Tonya’s daughter, as she strives to teach her the importance of kindness, empathy, and helping others. “I get a chance to show my daughter that it's important to take care of others and be kind to others who sometimes just need a smile or something small to make their day better,” Tonya reflects.

Tonya's involvement began with recruitment initiatives, where she helped bring awareness to the need for foster families and volunteers. She was also instrumental in creating the FACS website. Over the years, Tonya’s role evolved as she took on long-distance drives, transporting children to and from various destinations. These drives became a special part of her volunteer work, allowing the children she drove to relax and connect before their next destination. For Tonya, these drives were more than just transportation; they were an opportunity to create a safe space where the kids could unwind and share their stories. “I had a regular drive with a little girl for most of a year. We both listened to Chronicle of Narnia audiobooks during her very long drives, and we would have a chance to talk about them” Tonya shares. Even though Tonya’s personal life has gotten busier after adopting her daughter, her dedication to FACS remains strong. While her time is more limited these days, she continues to contribute by helping with short drives when she can, sharing events on social media, and talking to people about fostering and volunteering. Her advice for new volunteers? "Try a little bit of everything and see what you enjoy the most. Use your current skills to help out where you can.” Tonya’s unwavering commitment to making the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time, serves as an inspiration to all who volunteer. She proves that no matter how much time you have to give, every moment matters—and in giving, we all grow. Thank you, Tonya, for being a shining example of love, compassion, and dedication to others. 

Meet Olalekan! 

Ola joined the Agency as a volunteer driver August of 2024.He volunteers with FACS driven by a deep desire to connect with and give back to his community. While driving around with his three daughters, he spotted an ad for volunteer drivers and immediately felt drawn to the cause, realizing it was a natural fit since he was already driving for his own family. Each week, Ola dedicates 6-8 hours to transporting children, and the most rewarding part of his role comes when he hears the kids' heartfelt “Thank you for the ride,” accompanied by their bright smiles. It’s moments like these that remind him of the real impact he’s making. For those new to volunteering, his advice is simple: it’s a great way to meet wonderful people, especially if you are new to Canada. A memorable moment that fueled his commitment was attending a Donor Appreciation Dinner, where hearing the kids share their happy stories inspired him to get involved. The joy he sees in the children’s faces as they attend visits with family is what he enjoys most about the role, making it all the more meaningful. Thank You, Ola for your dedication and support! 

Meet Glenn,

Glenn began his journey with FACS in March of 2024 after noticing a billboard about volunteer driving. This came as an addition to his already busy schedule of volunteering with Canadian Cancer Society Wheels of Hope program. For Glenn, volunteering is all about the impact he can make in the present moment.

Whether it’s driving a child to therapy, family meetings, or a fun Horse Camp, he knows that each trip is a chance to make a difference. While weather-related cancellations occasionally disrupt his schedule, the appreciation Glenn receives from the clients makes it all worthwhile.

We are incredibly grateful for Glenn and all of our volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to supporting children and families in our community.

Thank you, Glenn!

Meet Chris...

Chris is a dedicated and compassionate volunteer who has made a significant impact on the lives of many individuals over her years of service. In 2009 her niece, who works with Grand Erie CAS, asked her to step in and assist with volunteer work. What started as a simple request quickly turned into a lasting commitment, and in 2016, Chris joined FACS Waterloo as a Volunteer Driver.

Chris understands the importance of supporting those in need and finds purpose in providing reliable and compassionate service to children and families. Her advice to new volunteers is simple:

• Live up to your commitments and arrive on time.
• Plan your route and know your mapping.
• Advocate for your passengers.
• Keep perspective on what truly matters and rely on the Transportation department for additional support.

Chris’s approach to volunteering reflects a deep sense of responsibility, empathy, and respect for the people we serve.

Thank You, Chris :)

Meet Wesley!
Wesley kindly shared with us his extraordinary journey. He was paralyzed in 2010 and spent two years in a wheelchair. Slowly but surely, he regained his ability to walk and eventually to drive again, however he was unable to work. He received so much support during his disability that he felt inspired to help others himself. This is when he heard about volunteer driving needs at FACS and, luckily for us, was willing to give it a try. He became a Volunteer Driver in 2019. Wesley volunteers one to two days a week and is willing to step up and do more when necessary.
Wesley believes that in order to be successful at this position you need to love driving, love to volunteer and have empathy, be a good listener and treat everyone with love and care. Wesley loves having a positive impact on children and youth he drives. He says that giving back in this way makes him feel useful and gives him great joy to help others.

“I love to volunteer for FACS because everyone is so kind and caring. FACS is a great organization and does wonderful work in our community.”
Thank you, Wesley – for going above and beyond to provide support to the children and families in our community!!! We couldn’t do this work without your help!!