The Impact You Don’t Always See: Celebrating our Trellis Volunteers 

This year, Calgary volunteers were recognized in a more connected way. 

For the first time, organizations across the city came together to celebrate National Volunteer Week as a shared effort. The mayor’s official proclamation highlighted the importance of the care, time and energy volunteers bring into our communities every day. 

More than 30 agencies collaborated to offer free events across the city, creating space for volunteers to gather, connect, and receive some well-deserved kudos. Across Calgary, volunteers showed up, providing a powerful view of how many people are giving their time to support others, strengthen community and build belonging. 

At Trellis, we feel the difference that volunteers can make every day. In 2025, more than 300 volunteers supported programs across our organization, contributing over 1,400 hours of their time and creating more than $43,000 in value for our community. 

But it takes more than numbers to tell the story of real-life impact. 

Volunteers at Trellis show up in many ways, from helping maintain buildings and supporting events to offering specific skills where they are needed most. Whether through small acts or ongoing support, their involvement helps ensure that the environments clients walk into feel steady, welcoming and cared for.

“When volunteers are here, it creates room,” explains Kadie Hughes, Trellis’ Volunteer and Community Engagement Lead. “It lets staff focus on relationships, and that changes how people experience our spaces.”

As they lend their talents to Trellis, our volunteers often gain a deeper understanding of the people and places around them. 

Kadie remembers a group that came in to help with spring cleaning at one of Trellis’ group homes. As they worked, one volunteer paused and said, “I had no idea this was here, and I live just down the street!”

 “That’s usually the moment it shifts,” Kadie says. “When people realize this isn’t somewhere far away – it’s part of their own community.”

Over time, the care shown by our Trellis volunteers extends beyond individual moments. Their volunteer work becomes more than a task and turns into a way of seeing the community more clearly.

In many ways, this reflects the meaning behind Trellis itself, something that supports growth and helps others find their way. “When someone feels welcomed into a space, they start to care about it. And that’s when connection really begins,” says Kadie.  

We are so grateful to our volunteers – the people who show up with care, openness and a willingness to be part of something that is not always visible but is always meaningful. Because of you, we can show up for our community in ways that matter. 

If you’ve been wondering what it looks like to be part of that impact, this is your invitation to start exactly where you are. Your time and your unique skills can help build a community where everyone can flourish. Learn more about our volunteer opportunities or join our volunteer waitlist to get started.