For many families, volunteering within the community is important, fulfilling work says Una Rice…

In every community there exists a band of people going about important work, quietly, and very often, without financial gain. Without these people, there would be a little less hope for others. You could say they spread a little magic into people’s lives.

We don’t expect that someone leading the way with conviction and compassion will be a young teenager, but for the Brennan family, there’s such admiration for daughter Lauren, who at 14, is often busy in the background making a huge difference, with her kindness combined with a ‘let’s do this’ attitude. In addition to heading up fundraising events, Lauren will often hand over her own money, asking her mum to donate it to a struggling cause.

‘‘I think it started off with Easter eggs for the homeless,’’ recalls mum Claire. ‘‘Lauren kept one and gave the rest of hers away.’‘ There’s a long list of charities and organisations which have benefited from Lauren’s actions since: ­ The Hospice, Crumlin Children’s Hospital, Temple Street Hospital, ­ The Mater Foundation, ­ The Simon Community, ­ The Irish Heart Foundation and Save our Homeless, Dundalk. Lauren and younger brother Shaun (12) have also been the familiar faces of Temple Street.

‘‘A few years ago Lauren, then aged nine, had to calmly ring an ambulance for her dad, John, when it looked like he was having a stroke, and she saved his life,’’ says Claire. A bravery award from the National Ambulance Service followed, and radio station LMFM awarded her an unsung hero award.

­The family went through an ordeal when john received the gift of life with a heart transplant three years ago. ­ This inspired Lauren to encourage people to sign up to organ donation. ‘’She is incredible,’’ says Claire, ‘‘and this year was recently diagnosed with a life changing heart condition herself, but nothing will stop her putting others first.’’

Testament to this was a recent Facebook post by Save our Homeless, Dundalk: ‘‘Folks, we have been supported by this beautiful young lady over the last number of years. She supports us throughout the year with her many food collections. Lauren, we are so grateful for everything. Legend.’’

Not surprising then, that a local carer turned up on their doorstep with a donation and handed it to Claire, saying: ‘‘Give it to Lauren, she’ll know what to do with it!’’

FINDING TIME

While many of us are encouraged and admiring of ordinary families who volunteer, we often wonder what we could do, or how we’d commit to making the time to help out ourselves.

One woman who does find the time is Ciara Crowe Leahy, a mother of four children, in a family with two dogs. Ciara began volunteering work in 2019, following the death of her beloved dad, Fred, who had been voluntary CEO of Nandri, a mother’s self-help charitable organization in India.

‘‘Dad volunteered all of his life, so it feels as though his spirit lives on, when I’m out delivering donations.’’ Ciara volunteers from home by receiving donations and marrying them up with a needy recipient.

‘‘I’ve always had a special place in my heart for vulnerable pregnant mothers, or struggling mothers. I source baby items for two organizations: Community Connect and Gianna Care. I also volunteer with Coolock Freebies for Homeless & Families in Need.’’ Everyone giving selfl essly to others needs a network and Ciara lists her friends Sínead, Mary and Marian as key helpers, as well as husband Seán, who runs the fort while she’s busy elsewhere.

While donations are sorted in her home, she’s cognizant of how things could be improved. For example, clothing should be washed and clean so it can be donated promptly. Baby equipment like prams should be in good working condition. ­ Is saves on trips to the dump with broken or dirty items.

Often the act of uniting someone with an item they desperately need, like newborn clothing or equipment, is dependent on a car journey. If it wasn’t for women like Ciara, it wouldn’t happen. Arguably the more people involved, the lighter the load. Any help - donations or deliveries – is invaluable. Ciara is heartened by the new friends she has made through volunteering.

‘‘And I’ve dragged some old friends along with me too,’’ she smiles. ‘‘My fellow volunteers are all very busy mothers, but they give so much of themselves. Big hearts and big personalities.’’

‘‘Many mothers think they can’t volunteer because of their small children. However, the help we need most is with collections and deliveries. Not necessarily huge items, it’s often just a few bags of grocery shopping.’’

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Ciara, like other frontline volunteers, considers social outcomes and impacts, and recognises how a cycle of despair is created within societies that’s often difficult to break without the right help and support. Sadly, recurrent themes of addiction, physical abuse and dysfunction are all too common. ‘‘I believe many problems in society could be avoided through prevention,’’ says Ciara, who has noted higher than expected rates of illiteracy amongst many requiring help. ­ The idea that it takes a village to raise a child is one that naturally occurs, but, as Ciara asks: ‘‘Where is that village?’’

Perhaps it’s in the groups of teenagers, young adults, women and men who assemble to ensure that someone who can’t sleep tonight for worry, will be taken care of. Small acts can have wide ranging effects. So the work continues, and good endeavour often meets bleakness, hardship and weariness, but creates something new. Hope. Gratitude. A willingness to keep going. And that little spark of magic lights someone’s day.

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