Uta Jandric inspires other seniors to volunteer and make a difference
SENIORS WRAP
With a big motivation to be helpful and contribute in a positive way, 68 year-old Wonga Beach local Uta Jandric has been giving back to the community as a volunteer and hopes to inspire other seniors to do so too.
When Ms Jandric retired from her job as Qantas International Flight Attendant in Sydney she decided to use her spare time to volunteer in the community.
“I started looking for places where I could be useful,” she said. “Countless options presented themselves but one of them really resonated with me.
“OzHarvest was a perfect match for my skills, so I joined up in 2015 and loved working for this awesome organisation.
“I helped in the kitchens, served food at their functions, packed hampers when Covid started and helped out at information stalls at different events to promote what we were doing. I loved it.
The benefits of volunteering
In 2020 Ms Jandric moved to Wonga Beach from Sydney and started volunteering at the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre.
“Helping out with their new OZHarvest food relief program here, my experience with OzHarvest in Sydney turned out to be very useful.
“Every Wednesday we provide free food to local people in need and we have between 20 and 30 people every week taking advantage of this service. It’s great to know we are all making a difference in their lives.
“I really believe, that for people who are retired, or temporarily out of work, volunteering
is a great way to meet new people, make new friends, as well as learning new skills.
“I have found that the sort of person that chooses to do voluntary work is generally caring, helpful, kind and compassionate, and a pleasure to work with.
“The staff at the PDNC are passionate, dedicated and welcoming. It feels like being part of a big family and with everyone’s help we can make a big difference in many people's lives. How awesome is that!
“I encourage anyone that has some spare time to give volunteering a try, you will be surprised what a positive difference it can make to your own life as well as for others.”