Generations volunteering with love
Volunteering is in the family when it comes to the Mogridge and Hayes families and it seems like it has been passed on through to the next generation as well.
Both Ray Mogridge and the late Arthur Hayes both started volunteering with us at Youth Insearch as members of the Lions Club District Q3. The Hayes family are members of the Lions Club of Deception Bay, and the Mogridge family from Lions Club of Kallangur.
Hayes legacy
The beloved Arthur Hayes had been the Youth Insearch Chairman for the Lions Club District 201Q3 for many years and around 2015 his health began to decline, so he rang Ray Mogridge and asked if he would take on the role.
During his involvement, Arthur and his wife Elinor Hayes had been organising food and cooking for everyone at weekend workshops, and as such had affectionately adopted the personas of Nana and Pop. Their son Bryan was also a Lions member and continues to help with the weekend workshops, still attending today to volunteer his time in the kitchen.
Mogridge legacy
Ray knew that he had big shoes to fill – and not just physically. It was in 2005 when Ray attended most of the weekend workshops so that he could get the reins handed over and so that Arthur knew it was in good hands.
Ray also enlisted the help of his daughter Leanne, who has helped Ray on many weekend workshops. Rays wife Margaret also assisted in 2002 and 2003 when she was helping with the supplies for the workshops, and although she did not have an official title, Margaret continues to help Ray still to this day.
Youth Insearch is so blessed to have volunteers that continue to contribute over generations, and through the action of providing great home cooked meals, the faces of young people (and the not so young) light up when they walk in for a meal break. It is love on a plate as they say.
Nana Elinor Hayes continues to help with the duties in the kitchen but leaves the bigger work to the younger volunteers – her son Bryan Hayes, and Ray and Leanne. Nana likes to join in with the young people and she is a highly treasured addition to any program. Nana’s sister Francis Bull has also attended and volunteered at weekend workshops.
The number of meals provided are countless, and the love, support and conversations had in the kitchen with many of the young people – some of them going onto become youth leaders – are remembered and appreciated deeply by all. Thank you just never seems enough.
Pictured below at our recent Duckadang program in March 2021 is Leanne, Bryan and Ray ringing the bell to let everyone know cinner is ready. Also pictured is Nana excited to be back at weekend workshops after the COVID lockdowns in 2020.
