Riding the Rollercoaster: A Summer at RCRG

By Viann Fung, One of RCRG's 2024 Summer Co-Op Students

The past four months have been a rollercoaster of an experience—challenging yet incredibly rewarding! I can still recall the thrill of stepping into the office on my first day and being assigned my very own desk. Four months have gone by quickly, and here I am writing this blog.

This summer, I had the opportunity to work as a Program Assistant at Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives, in the Seniors Community Support Service (SCSS) department. The main objective of the SCSS department is to help seniors remain independent in their homes for as long as possible.

We offer a range of programs and services, including Shop-by-Phone, Light Housekeeping, Transportation, Friendly Visiting, Senior Peer Counselling, the Family & Friend Caregiver Hub, SHINE (Seniors Housing Information and Navigation Ease), and Seniors Community Connections. We’ve recently added Social Prescribing to guide seniors in exploring community services and activities that can enhance their health, well-being, and independence.

I was most involved with the Shop-by-Phone team and the Caregiver Hub. For the former, I participated in onsite shopping at PriceSmart and Safeway twice a week. My role included selecting grocery items and taking grocery orders.

The tasks were more complex than I initially anticipated, especially when shopping for seniors. Each step required meticulous attention to detail to ensure the seniors received the items they had asked for. Communication was crucial. To take orders effectively, I needed to speak clearly and slowly. Some seniors enjoy chatting, so learning to set boundaries was an important skill. I also had to ensure that I gathered all necessary details—such as brand, quantity, size, flavour, etc.—so that volunteer shoppers could easily understand the exact items. When items were out of stock, I had to find substitutions and communicate with clients effectively through phone calls and written notes.

At the Caregiver Hub, the mission is to provide a supportive space for unpaid caregivers, who often dedicate their lives to caring for another senior. We offered various arts and crafts workshops, such as DIY lip balm-making, as well as educational seminars, ranging from healthy cooking classes to a fraud awareness workshop to a session on using public transit.

During these workshops, I was responsible for setting up and taking down the venue, ensuring the safety of all participants and volunteers, distributing materials, and keeping participants engaged. Occasionally, I assisted with translation when needed, which is something I don’t get to do often. Last but not least, we organized outdoor field trips, visiting the Richmond Nature Park, London Farm, and my personal favourite—Burnaby Village Museum.

What I Learned

At the start of my work term, I set the following learning objectives:

• Gaining administrative skills in an office setting
• Enhancing problem-solving and critical thinking
• Improving professional communication and attention to detail

My role extended beyond the two programs mentioned above. Throughout the term, I managed multiple tasks that required effective communication between volunteers, staff, and clients. Having multiple supervisors was a new experience for me; hence, I developed a habit of regularly updating them on the status of their tasks. I also had the opportunity to attend client intakes and community pop-up events. Speaking loudly and clearly was essential during these events. As an introvert, connecting with others required courage, and this job allowed me to venture out of my comfort zone.

I also achieved my goal of gaining administrative skills in an office setting. I became proficient in Microsoft Office, including SharePoint, Word, Access, and more. I particularly improved my Excel skills, as creating organized and easily readable charts was often necessary. I also entered client information into our database on Access.

As my responsibilities grew, I learned to create systems for organizing my day and meeting deadlines. Using checklists and entering deadlines into a calendar helped me prioritize tasks effectively. I also developed the habit of creating tabs in my notebook, making it easier to find information when needed—this was especially helpful when adjusting to the new job.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed working at RCRG. The team was incredibly supportive, and I felt like a valued colleague. This position allowed me to learn and experience so much—from entering the office everyday to interacting with seniors and visiting new places during caregiver field trips.

My biggest takeaway came from something my supervisor taught me on the first day: to have empathy. Putting myself in the clients' shoes helped me better understand their needs and always maintain a calm demeanour. My four months on the job were indeed a rollercoaster ride, starting slow and picking up speed. However, I gained many valuable skills along the way. I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked in this position.