Carol and John Atherton were visiting St. Catharines from their hometown of Markham when they fell in love with the city.
“We couldn’t believe how friendly everyone was,” John recalls, crediting the move with adding “10 years” to the couple’s lives. The Athertons, both originally from the U.K., had lived in Markham for 22 years before moving to St. Catharines.
Not long after their move, Carol struck up a conversation with a neighbour, who mentioned she’d just finished a shift volunteering at the Ronald McDonald Family Room (RMFR) at the Marotta Family Hospital, raving about how much she enjoys it. It was a lightbulb moment for Carol, who went home to tell her husband.
“We just looked at each other and said, ‘It’s our time to give back,’” she says. “We were workaholics, and when we retired, we had a list of things we wanted to do together. To be honest, volunteering wasn’t on it.”
“We just looked at each other and said, ‘It’s our time to give back.'”
But the kindness of the community that drew them here was so overwhelming that they felt compelled to give back to it.
The Athertons are one of eight married couples who volunteer at the Marotta Family Hospital.
Volunteers play a crucial role in optimizing the patient and family experience at Niagara Health, and contribute to safe, quality care through their kindness, compassion and dedication. From Sunday, April 19 to Saturday, April 25, Niagara Health is celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Week. There are 675 active volunteers across all fives sites, including 75 patient partners and 190 Auxiliary members.
“Niagara Health is committed to people-centred care, and our volunteers are essential to delivering it,” says Robert Cosby, Director, Patient Experience. “Through simple acts of kindness, listening and meaningful support, volunteers help patients and families feel known, respected and involved during some of their most vulnerable moments. Their presence truly makes a difference.”
Carol began volunteering in 2024 and was joined by John soon after. Carol volunteers at the RMFR, the gift shop and with the new Marie Kordos care cart. She says one of her favourite things about volunteering is getting to know the families who utilize the RMFR.
"Volunteering is therapeutic for us and has really opened our eyes to how hospitals operate.”
“It can be really emotional,” she says. “The best thing of all is seeing families go home with their kids. Volunteering is therapeutic for us and has really opened our eyes to how hospitals operate.”
John volunteers near the Registration Area selling Nevada tickets, which are instant-win lottery tickets that raise funds for hospital furniture and equipment. The role allows him to blend his love of helping others with his love of conversation. He also loves to educate others on the power of how people’s generosity, no matter how small, touches the lives of thousands of people across Niagara when they donate to the Niagara Health Foundation.
“On my first day, I was having so much fun and getting people so excited about winning that I was actually asked to keep it down,” he recalls with a laugh. “I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had someone win who says, ‘This kind of stuff never happens to me’. It’s so much fun. I often go home and say, ‘Carol, you won’t believe what happened today.’”
Swapping stories about their shifts has become commonplace in their household.
“Whenever John has a shift, I drop him off and say, ‘Now go spread some joy,’” Carol says.
The joy John spreads while volunteering matches the joy he receives from dedicating his time.
“Volunteers have an absolute blast,” he says. “If anyone wants to volunteer, this is the place to be. I leave every shift with a smile on my face.”
"I leave every shift with a smile on my face.”
Helping others and giving back is a sentiment that Ali Sajid and his wife, Zille Ali, live by.
Ali, who began volunteering for Niagara Health in 2023, inspired his wife to also volunteer for the organization. Despite working full-time as a water resources engineer, Ali also drives Uber and Lyft to raise funds for people in need and for organizations supporting religious, healthcare, research, wildlife, education and community services. With that same spirit of service, he felt drawn to volunteering at Niagara Health.
“I get a feeling of self humility and satisfaction from doing something good that has no connection to money,” he says. “I can’t give a name to the feeling I get from helping people but it’s profoundly rewarding.”
“I get a feeling of self humility and satisfaction from doing something good that has no connection to money,” he says. “I can’t give a name to the feeling I get from helping people but it’s profoundly rewarding.”
Outside of his volunteer work at Niagara Health, where he has worked three shifts a week since also starting in 2024, Ali and his wife are passionate about giving back to a variety of organizations that help people in need.
“It’s important to give back because we’re in a position to give back,” he says. His commitment to giving back stems from his experience as a university student, where he received a bursary and scholarships to support his studies.
Ali volunteers at the Welcome Desk, on various floors operating the comfort cart and in the RMFR, the latter of which is where Zille also volunteers.
At the Welcome Desk, Ali is a friendly first point of contact by greeting and helping patients and visitors, answering general questions and creating a calm, welcoming environment. When he operates the comfort cart, he provides patients with water and items such as warm blankets, newspapers, magazines and puzzle games while making conversation.
In the RMFR, both Ali and Zille support day-to-day operations by replenishing supplies and refreshments, upkeeping the room and welcoming families to the space.
Whether supporting local needs or contributing to causes in his native Pakistan, Ali is passionate about staying “connected with people from all walks of life.”
“I try to use my time, energy, resources and network to help strengthen communities and support those who need it most,” he says
Volunteering at Niagara Health
Interested in making a meaningful difference? Learn more about volunteering at Niagara Health and available positions.
