Volunteer Highlight: Karen Gagne
Island Senior Resources is proud to celebrate our devoted volunteers, whose generosity helps seniors feel supported and connected. In this ongoing series, we’re sharing the personal stories behind the service. Today, discover what motivates Karen to make a difference and the meaningful moments she has experienced while volunteering.
Every Monday morning, Karen Gagne arrives at the Island Senior Resources (ISR) Bayview Center with a smile and a purpose. She’s there to pick up Meals on Wheels deliveries for her Freeland and Langley route. For Karen, each drive is more than a delivery route, it’s a reminder to be grateful, present, and connected to others.
Karen’s passion for helping others began long before ISR. As a child, she watched her mother volunteer with hospice caregivers, always lending a hand wherever it was needed. “She taught me that you go out and help,” Karen explained. “You don’t wait for someone else to do it.” That spirit of compassion stayed with her, echoing the lesson she remembers from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: “Look for the helpers and if you can’t find one, become one.”
What keeps Karen going is the people she meets along the way. Over time, she’s built genuine friendships with many of the recipients. “It’s awesome to get to know them,” she said. “Their lives are so fascinating and wonderful. It’s really fun to meet them where they are and create these connections.” One recipient, a former artist, loves to share stories and show Karen their work. With another, they exchange books. These small moments of joy and companionship have become highlights of her week.
“Some people don’t want to come out of their homes,” Karen explained. “They don’t want to be a burden. That makes me sad because we have this community that wants to surround and support them. ISR helps make that happen. Volunteering brings everyone together; it shows that we need to be cohesive and empathetic. When we do that, we show people that they are worth it.”
Karen’s story is one of quiet inspiration, a reminder that kindness, community, and connection can happen in the simplest moments, even at the doorstep with a warm meal and a friendly smile.