Why I volunteer
I never met my aunt Erin. She died before I was born, before my older brother was an idea, before even my parents spending their lives together was a certainty.
In fact, the last time my dad saw his younger sister was when he dropped her off at the Windsor train station, a pit stop on the way to pick up my mother for their first date.
But while her existence never overlapped with mine, she’s been a presence throughout my life: her graduation photo is prominently displayed in my grandparent’s home, on the mantle above the fireplace, gathering with the family when we congregate in the living room. She is mentioned whenever a horror movie is recalled or a thunderstorm’s ongoing, because she loved both those things. And I cannot watch an episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show without thinking of her.
“She was a real life Mary Richards,” my dad once explained, because “she could do that,” referring to the theme song’s lyrics.
Erin died of anorexia and bulimia in 1982 and a few months passed before my grandparents eventually channeled their grief into founding the Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association (BANA). Each member of my father’s family helped BANA find its footing, which continues to be a pillar of the community in Windsor-Essex since their stepping back.
It’s an important organization that works to educate the community on body image issues while also helping those with an adverse body perspective to overcome them, with its main message to “Be Yourself,” a body positive idea that is much-needed in today’s superficial climate.
So when I was looking to participate in the community and be a productive member of it, BANA seemed like the perfect place to volunteer, because it not only gave me a chance to give back but also afforded me another chance to feel closer to Erin, whose very essence is built into the organization’s foundation.
It has been such a joy to work at the BANA booth with their warm-hearted staff at various events around Windsor, helping to spread the message that should you need help, BANA is here, and pressing button badges for the kids who come up to the booth. While volunteering I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing passersby who were previously unaware of BANA and the resources they provide but who either were in need of help themselves or recognized that someone they love needs assistance and stops by the booth.
Seeing someone take the first step in becoming better is inspiring to witness because so often with mental illness overcoming yourself and your own stigmas is a very difficult first step. It’s been an extremely rewarding experience to volunteer for BANA. It has allowed my empathy to evolve and my button-making abilities to improve.