For Bianca, being a Minda volunteer means the gift is in the giving.
She says truer words could not be spoken.
“I hate that this sounds like a cliché but the gift is in the giving,” she says.
“I’ve had a challenging few years personally and being able to give back went a long way to saving my life. It’s given me purpose and I just enjoy it.”
While Bianca has done various volunteering, she started with Minda in 2019 before Covid put a stop to everything.
“I was always interested in it and with my work schedule, I was in a position to be able to do it,” she says.
“I was looking into different organisations and if they had values that aligned with mine, and Minda ticked all of those boxes.”
“I’ve had a challenging few years personally and being able to give back went a long way to saving my life."
Volunteering at Minda is primarily about people enriching and empowering the lives of people with disability, however as a volunteer you’ll have the opportunity to develop and expand your skill base, meet new people, explore career development, and discover training opportunities.
Bianca has rolled up her sleeves and done all sorts of jobs for the organisation, from digging up bricks and Christmas and Mother’s Day wrapping in the Adelaide Arcade, to monthly client barbecues and office work.
But there is not one single job she enjoys the most – she loves it all.
“I love everything about volunteering there – the people, the clients, the inclusivity and that everyone is awarded a fair go,” she says.
And it’s not just Bianca who gets involved, she has passed on that love of volunteering to her children – Zara, 13, and Max, 12 - and nephews – Travis, 12 and Seth, 10.
"It’s given me purpose and I just enjoy it.”
They all look forward to the monthly client barbecues where they help set up, cook and serve food.
“When I first said to them about volunteering, I thought they would find it a chore, but they have never seen it that way. They love it,” she says.
“They enjoy interacting with the clients and for me, it’s so lovely to see that.
“I’m trying to teach the children that we are one big community so it’s up to all of us to contribute to that, whether it’s helping or teaching. It’s all part of being a well-rounded human being.
“For anyone thinking about volunteering, I would encourage them to get in touch and have a chat with Minda. People are frightened of the commitment, but you can do as little or as much as you like. There is so much to help out with.”
If you are interested in volunteering at Minda, please call 1800 164 632 or fill out the contact form below.