By Sweena Rai
Look up not down
Look forward not back
Look out not in
And lend a hand.
This motto comes from The King’s Daughters and Sons — an international, inter-denominational, Christian organization whose aim is “not to be ministered unto but to minister.” It is a motto which describes Gwen Richards perfectly.
Richards, 80, has been part of this organization for 63 years.
Born and raised in Shawville, Que., a small town northwest of Ottawa, Richards has been a volunteer since she was a teenager. She says she inherited her community spirit from her parents, and despite her age, Richards shows no sign of slowing down.
Dressed in a neat, navy blue and white outfit with a matching scarf around her neck, Richards sits comfortably in a dainty, living room chair.
Like its owner, the room is neat and the furniture is old-fashioned. Books about Canada sit on top of the mantle. Flowers and plants adorn the tables. And colorful knick-knacks line the shelves of a big window. The atmosphere in the room is orderly, peaceful and calm.
But outside of her home, Richards, who says she’s been blessed with good health, is a whirlwind of activity.
“I enjoy (doing volunteer work), otherwise, I wouldn’t do it,” explains Richards. “I’m certainly not doing it for the money!
“It’s just caring really. If people don’t get stirred into action, then nothing worthwhile gets done.”
It was this enthusiasm which inspired Richards, a Centretown resident for 50 years, to help found The King’s Daughters Dinner Wagon.
Richards and the other founders created this Meals on Wheels service, the first of its kind in the area, in 1968 when they realized how many people in Ottawa couldn’t prepare their own meals.
The service, based out of 790 Bronson Ave., now delivers about 500 meals a day to elderly, convalescent and disabled residents in Ottawa, Vanier and Rockcliffe Park.
Some 700 volunteers work in teams of two to deliver one meal at noon every Monday to Friday. The meals, which consist of various soups, meat dishes, vegetables and desserts, cost $4.20 each and are paid for monthly. A client must be proven eligible for the service by either a doctor, social worker or family member.
“The best part is just knowing there’s a certain number of human beings being helped physically and socially,” says Richards. “That’s what we set out to accomplish.”
In addition to founding the Meals on Wheels service, Richards has served as president, a board member, a meal deliverer and a promoter. She was even a ‘poster child’ for the service when she caught pneumonia and had to have meals delivered to her own home.
Remarkably, Richards continues to volunteer as a driver for Meals on Wheels.
Although she’s made a career out of volunteer work, Richards went to business college directly after high school and then worked for the government for five years. She says, however, her real position was as a full-time “household co-ordinator.”
Richards, a widow, is the mother of three grown children and grandmother of seven grandchildren.
In addition to her work with the Meals on Wheels service, Richards is a director of The King’s Daughters Apartments, the first low-rental, highrise apartment building for seniors in Ottawa, built in 1964. She’s also an active member of her church, St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church on Somerset Street West.
Richards says she simply wants to help the community, not feel obliged to give back to it.
“I think that we should give in whatever way we can and not feel that we have to pay back to someone.”
In 1987, Richards was awarded a plaque from the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services in recognition of her volunteer work.
Although modest about her own work, Richards is quick to compliment the dinner wagon’s “very capable office staff and good roster of volunteers.”
Rosa Venuta, manager of volunteer services at The King’s Daughters Dinner Wagon, says Richards has a tremendous amount of compassion.
“She’s very kind and considerate to others. She does extra things for the staff here,” says Venuta. “She’ll bring in her homemade tea biscuits to the office periodically. When she finds the time to do this on top of everything else! And she’s not the kind of person who likes to be praised too much.”
Venuta says she is inspired by both Richards’ faithful commitment to the Meals on Wheels program and her active role in recruiting new volunteers — including the man who fixed her roof!
“She’s really good at spreading the word about the cause,” says Venuta. “That’s what I think makes the people who founded the program so unique. Because of their vision, they can find other ways to captivate people.”
Janet Snyder, the program’s executive director, says Richards is a wonderful mentor.
“Gwen was always one to see other ways of doing things, willing to try new things and always encouraged other people to become involved and try things,” says Snyder.
Violet Carter, who’s been friends with Richards for 53 years, says Richards is so dedicated to doing volunteer work, she won’t let either of them quit.
“There’s three of us. Gwen is 80 and she’s still going strong. Our other friend turned 85 and she’s still going strong. And I’m the baby. I’m 77. So as long as they keep it up, I’m sure they’re going to make sure I keep it up!” laughs Carter.
Richards, along with three remaining founders of The King’s Daughters Dinner Wagon, quietly celebrated the Meals on Wheels’ 30th anniversary on Mar. 4. They delivered meals in the afternoon and then were honored by the staff with a private luncheon.
Richards’ teenage granddaughter, Christina Gamouras, helped deliver the 10 meals on her grandmother’s route. As a young girl, Gamouras used to ride along with Richards when she delivered meals.
Richards says she always hoped the program would become as big and successful as it has.
“When I walk into the office and see the size of the program, and I remember the excitement of my first delivery, it gives me a sense of pleasure and satisfaction,” she says. “You go into (volunteer work with) a desire to help others and I don’t think you lose that. If you can’t help one way, you’ll help another.”