“I do not have good digital skills.” Phuong was humble about her volunteer work with the Seniors. “When you teach other people, you learn more yourself. When I was at work, I did have some computer experience, but not with Personal Computers. We used email. As for iPhone and iPad, I only picked them up after retirement, little by little.”

Phuong was born in Saigon (now known as Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam. She then left Vietnam to study Commerce in Japan where she met her husband and got married.

“After Vietnam became a Communist Country, many Vietnamese Students were stuck in Japan. We either stayed in Japan, or we had to look for a country to immigrate to. So my husband and I decided to come to Canada.” Phuong worked as an Import Clerk at a Steamship Company. Her husband, becoming a Mechanical Engineer in Japan, had to study Electronics Design in order to enter the Electronics field in Vancouver.

Phuong and her husband raised a son and a daughter who both went to the After-School Program at Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House.

After retiring from the workforce in 2013, Phuong started participating in Frog Hollow’s Seniors Programs. “There were so many Wellness Programs at Frog Hollow. The first Program I attended was Tai Chi, Monday to Thursday mornings from 8:15 – 9:00 “ she recollected. Phuong has become an active member of the Frog Hollow Community ever since.

“Many of our Volunteers are so humble. They have no idea how much of a positive impact they’ve brought to the Community. They are our treasures and I really honour their contribution.” Manda, the Family and Seniors Programmer at Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House says.

Phuong was one of the Neighbourhood Safety Ambassadors for the “Vancouver Walk and Be Seen” Project, a Volunteer of the Chinese Community Response Network’s “Warmth Giving Caring Action,” and a Member of Frog Hollow’s Multicultural Senior Advisory Committee.

When Covid-19 struck 2 years ago, all of our Programs had to be moved online. Phuong signed up to become a Digital Volunteer, helping other Seniors to stay connected during these testing times.

“In the beginning, it was very hard. They (the seniors) were confused. They couldn’t tell the difference. How to use them (the apps) while each app was different from the others. After learning once, they had to use it multiple times in order to remember. Then after a while, they would forget. They would have to do it all over again. So we need to be patient and we need to spend a little more time with them.”

Besides helping at Frog Hollow, Phuong and her husband also volunteer at Mount Pleasant Community Centre setting up the Ballroom Dancing Group for Seniors. Phuong also loves dancing, swimming and hiking with her daughter.

“Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House had been a part of my life,” says Samuel, one of our one-on-one digital literacy support volunteers at Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House.

Samuel was born in Vancouver, and his parents immigrated from China. Frog Hollow NH is the first organization he went to pre-school, on and off participating programs over the past 17 years of his life. Samuel’s mum also works part-time as one of our child-minders at Frog Hollow.

Samuel is currently a high school student at Vancouver Technical Secondary School. He is the secretary and instructor of the Coding Club in his school, where he hopes to spread awareness about computer science and teaches other people to use valuable skills in the real world.

When the pandemic first struck, Frog Hollow’s Food Security Program struggled to find a driver willing to deliver emergency food bags to needing families in the community. Jose was one of the volunteers who signed up to help us deliver the food bags on a regular basis.

“I saw so many first responders, doctors, nurses, everybody was working so hard,” Jose recalled how he started. “I was trying to emulate what they do.. you know… (if)they can do that, I will try to do my part, even though it’s a small thing.”

Every week, after our staff packed food bags, Jose would come to Frog Hollow and pick up the bags and drop them off to the families in the Hastings-sunrise community.

After a few deliveries, Jose realized, this meant more than just receiving food bags, “I thought I’m just gonna be a delivery guy…but when I see their smiles, I started realizing they were really in need, and (the delivery) made a difference on their table…you got some acquaintance, you started talking, and they tell you their problems. This creates bonding. “

“He has this very cheerful spirit and vibe that brought some lightness to our families during these testing times.” says Eva, Frog Hollow’s Food Security Coordinator, “Jose has no idea how important his delivery was to these families. They are in dire needs for daily meals”.

Jose is originally from Columbia. He moved to Canada with his wife 20 years ago. He first worked as a roofer, then he got a Master’s degree that landed him a job at an engineering company. “I find we immigrants receive so much from the society…because of the resources, my kids are healthy, they are safe, and we just really want to give back”.

When Jose turned 50, he hit a low point in his life, “I am 50 and what I am gonna do with my life.. I was trying to find something… some purposes”. He went on iVolunteer website and signed up for volunteering opportunities at local charities and Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House.

“I found that interesting… so neighbourhood houses and streets.. wow.. the side of Canada I didn’t know of”. Jose found purpose in this voluntary work and felt fulfilled. “It really helps me…I feel like I’m going to be part of this for as far as I can… I mean just some spare time, and I can still move a box. I want to do it.”

Jose and his wife have 2 kids. He sometimes brings his kids to volunteer, “..so they understood that people in need and .. with a little effort.. you can help so much. Though my son doesn’t come with me now, he sees what I’m doing. I think that’s gonna help him in the future.”.

A Thank you note to Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House
from a former volunteer

As I open my eyes to a new day, stretch my arms as far as they go; listen to my heart, breath in and out, and express gratitude to be present on this beautiful ancestral land and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, I realize how much my life has changed and achieved from the moment I stepped into Frog Hollow that day.

It has been an inspiring journey to be a part of Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House. I started by participating in the La Colmena Spanish program, Family Drop-in, and Nobody is Perfect Program. I started volunteering for the Spanish Group and Gardener Hangouts through referrals, which led to substituting a dear friend and mentor at Frog Hollow. Now, I am working as a Family Programmer and Volunteer Coordinator at Frog Hollow, passing on the magic, which has changed me, to others in the community.

Volunteering at Frog Hollow has given me the strength, confidence and guidance to find myself as a woman, mother, friend and person who now stands without fear or heaviness from losing their identity in a new place, new land, new culture. I have built a network and met new friends and people I call now my family in this beautiful land, which sometimes feels foreign. Yet, it embraces me even more and reminds me I belong here every time I give back to my community.

I get that warm feeling of being at home when I share smiles, hugs, jokes, ideas and when I’m lucky to help someone in need. My life has evolved in ways I couldn’t have gained without volunteering at Frog Hollow.

By surrounding myself with the amazing and loving staff team at Frog Hollow, I experienced the impact of kindness, a smile, time spent with neighbours or creating a safe space to talk has had on this community: we are stronger and healthier together.

I am deeply thankful to the people who have helped and made me thrive over the years at Frog Hollow community; you are my “familia” and my light when darkness comes.

Now I can embrace darkness because I know I’ll have the community by my side. We can walk together to find new roads to build our lives. We will meet new people on the journey, and let’s light our paths together.