What does Jon Hill, a man who has devoted his career to Ray of Hope, have to say to someone thinking about volunteering at Ray of Hope?  Find out in this month’s issue.

The Power of Volunteering

Jon’s Message to Future Volunteers

In 1975, Jon Hill was the last person anyone would have expected to be the supervisor of young offenders at Ray of Hope. Three days after being charged with inciting a riot and threatened with prison, Jon met Jesus powerfully and his life took a 180 degree turn. He says, “I began running in the opposite direction after Christ wherever I could find Him”. Ten months later, he began working at Ray of Hope. 

For the next 18 years, Jon worked with young offenders, “passionate about helping young teens get free of the dissolution of drugs, sex and a partying lifestyle. Before Christ, this had been my lifestyle. In coming to know Jesus, my eyes were opened to what true freedom really is”.

In 2001, Jon became the Director of the Community Centre. This shift to serving people experiencing homelessness opened Jon’s eyes to how little he knew. In this role, he quickly realized that he could not effectively serve people alone. With only one other staff and limited cooking skills, the task of serving meals each day was overwhelming. Amazingly, their weakness of not knowing how to cook became their strength as they invited other people into the ministry to meet the Community Centre guests, love them, and provide meals. Thus began a new mission to “help the Christian community learn how to truly love people experiencing poverty”. 

Jon can share story after story of people who believed that they had nothing to offer and felt they weren’t good enough to volunteer. One woman, who met Jesus at an AA meeting, wanted help to start a greeting card program. Another woman, who had never met someone who was homeless, felt uncomfortable and afraid. For 6 weeks, she cooked the meal and slipped out the back door before it was served. Eventually she came to love the people she was cooking for and never left early again.

After over 40 years of working for Ray of Hope, Jon now serves as a volunteer. He shares that “I almost feel like I am now doing what I got into this for. When you start as the director, you miss a whole lot (between the finances and the scheduling, etc). I only had enough time to develop surface-y relationships…Now, I’m sitting down with people I’ve known the whole 20 years and I’m getting to know them because I’m giving them my full attention”. 

There are about 30 programs that are run in the Community Centre, many begun by someone who didn’t think their interest or skill would be interesting or helpful to anyone else, from Canine Companions to Cooking on a Budget to Crafters Corner.  

Jon’s message to anyone who is considering giving of their time to volunteer is this. “God created each one of us for a purpose…Come to volunteer, and you’ll be the one that is getting something out of it”. 

We each have something to offer, whether it’s a skill to teach, a game to play or just a listening ear.  To explore the best place for you to serve, see https://rayofhope.net/volunteer. 

Marketplace Needs

• Shelf-stable food: Canned beans, canned vegetables, canned meat, canned pasta, pasta sauce, dry pasta, canned fruit, oatmeal or breakfast bars, cereal, and baking mixes
• Baby items: Diapers (size 2-5), baby formula, and baby food
• Hygiene items: Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bar soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes

Items can be brought to the Ray of Hope Community Centre – 659 King Street East – entrance off Stirling Lane on weekdays from 9 am – 8 pm, Saturdays from 11-2 pm, and Sundays from 4-6 pm. Ring the green doorbell when you arrive to let us know you’re here.

For more information, contact us at donations@rayofhope.net.