Aunty June: The Quiet Work of Showing Up

Aunty June didn't set out to become a volunteer. She just kept walking past House of Joy on her way to drop her grandchild at the nearby childcare centre. Familiarity turned into curiosity, curiosity turned into involvement, and for close to two years now she has been serving on the Care Team.

What she has learned in that time is that the seniors don't need a lot. Many of the older folks she visits just want someone to sit with them. Someone to listen. Someone who will come back next week.

One experience stays with her. An elderly couple had become increasingly isolated. The wife was living with dementia, and the couple was reluctant to step out for any of the centre's activities. Aunty June kept turning up anyway. No pressure, just visits and gentle encouragement. It took time, but eventually they started attending chair yoga together, and now they come regularly.

For Aunty June, this is the part of the work that matters most. Not the grand gestures, but the knowledge that her time, patience, and dedication made a real difference.

She notices the small things about House of Joy too. How some seniors drop in two or three times a day, treating it as a second home. How the staff are warm without being performative.

Every year, she looks forward to the banquet at Singapore Expo. There is something special about sitting down to a meal together, watching the performances, and seeing so many familiar faces in one room.