What happens when you take your knowledge and work experience, and couple it with your passion for helping others? Well, our next $10,000 Local Give participant, Graham Specht, proves these are the ingredients for success.
As a Diversity Program Coordinator at Kamloops Immigrant Services, Graham is an expert at doing great things on a limited budget. So, when he saw a poster referencing the $10,000 Local Give campaign in his colleague’s office, he knew he wanted to be a part of it.
“In the social services world we are used to making do with tiny budgets or donations, so $100 is a lot to work with by comparison,” began Graham, “Our field is often called ‘the helping professions’ where we help people who need it. While much of what we do is systematic and ongoing, I’m also able to use my individual skill set and connections to help people in a very practical and direct way.”
When he’s not working, Graham puts his skills to use as a volunteer bike mechanic. A cyclist himself, he takes great pride in repairing bikes, and he understands that bicycles can be so much more than just a form of leisure: “If I can provide transportation to someone who needs it, it can make a huge difference in a person’s level of access to opportunities.”
Armed with $100, Graham asked himself what would make the biggest difference to his community. The answer was clear: buy more bike repair supplies to help others get around. Through Local Give, he was able to purchase enough supplies to service 25 bikes including a bottle of chain lube, grease, ferrules and cables.
When we spoke to Graham in December, he had already sent out two new bikes to newcomers in the community, and was working on a new request that came through the Refugees and Friends Together (RAFT) sponsorship program. The request was for four adult and two kids’ bikes.
Since starting this passion project, Graham has discovered a network of people who also spend their time building bikes for those in need. Through this, they have created a larger community who can do much more together than independently. They’re able to connect, share tips, and swap stories on the impact of their work. He’s also shared his own positive experience with Local Give and encouraged others to create their own waves of local good in their communities.
“I know three colleagues that applied to be part of Local Give and they are each using it to help different demographics of people in different ways,” said Graham. “The flexible nature of the $10,000 Local Give lets people help their community through their creativity and know-how.”
We couldn’t be happier to hear of Graham’s dedication to volunteerism and the difference he’s making to those who are new to our community. Thank you, Graham, for sharing your story and for helping us create a wave of local good!