Community Impact: Helping families in Calgary

The Community Impact program gives Intact’s employees the flexibility to choose how and where they give, in ways that are meaningful to them. This is the second story in a four-week series, profiling employees who are making an impact in their community. Did you miss the first story? You can read it here.

For Mary and Amando Reyes, helping the community is a family affair. The couple and their two adult children have been volunteering for more than a decade.

Mary, a senior administrative support worker for Western Claims Systems Help, and Amando, a valet attendant at the Calgary Intact Service Centre, volunteer with the Champion Life Centre’s Community Outreach Network. The network organizes free tax clinics, immigration support and information sessions, community networking events and more for low-income and at-risk families.

Volunteering gives Mary a sense of purpose and builds her confidence. “I want to give back to the community. I want to make a difference in the lives of the people around me.”

One of Mary’s favourite memories of volunteering was two years ago at Christmas, when she and her family prepared gift baskets for families at Brenda’s House, a homeless shelter in Calgary. They also spent time with the families, cooking for them and playing games with the children. “We gave them what we could to help them,” says Mary. “When we saw the kids’ happy faces, it was really a joy and fulfillment for us.”

Mary and Amando have been using the company’s Community Impact program to track their volunteer hours for two years. Intact donates $20 for every hour they volunteer with the outreach network, which helps them do even more to help the community.

“The funds help us buy more supplies for children in need,” says Mary. “We’re able to do a lot more because of Intact’s support.”

Share your story

Are you an Intact employee volunteering or donating to a cause you’re passionate about? Share your stories of generosity on social media with #MyIntact and #CommunityImpact.