I started volunteering with the Annex Cat Rescue organization. I became a feral cat feeder, wandering the back alleys between Bathurst and Christie armed with a jug of water and a fresh bag of Whiskas. But the cats didn’t really make for great conversation so I started to volunteer with Live Green Toronto as well, working at community events throughout the city.
I have always cared about the environment and realized at a young age that complaining didn’t breed results, only hard work did. With that in mind, I began more actively educating myself about Toronto’s environmental issues as well as those that Canada faced as a whole. I recognized that awareness and policy change were critical ways to address environmental issues and thought that I may be able to help in some small way. With an English and Sociology degree behind me, it was clear I wasn’t going to be the woman in a lab finding the answer to our energy crisis, BUT I could be the woman out on the streets telling people about that other woman and her incredibly important work.
I began to volunteer for the Sierra Club’s Ontario chapter, joined the Executive Committee and became the Chair of their Outings and Social Committee - a position I still enjoy to date. I also wanted to focus on helping Toronto specifically and started volunteering with LEAF as an Outreach Team member. Through LEAF, I learned about Not Far From the Tree and started gleaning urban fruit as well. I was (and still am) busy, but it felt great to be a part of so many amazing organizations.
Being a LEAF Outreach Team volunteer led me to become a Tree Tender and got me planting trees. Tears! I shed actual tears of joy when I planted my first tree. Trees and me go way back you see, and I think they are beyond great! Understanding the importance of our urban forest and my place within it has given me a whole new appreciation for it. This new found knowledge along with my experience working with the fantastic staff encouraged me to apply for a position within LEAF. I couldn’t think of a better job! I love that I get to be part of the LEAF team and help get more trees into the ground each day.
Through volunteering, I’ve made some amazing friends, learned so much more than I could have from books alone and found a way to make a difference. The early Saturday mornings representing LEAF at Community Environment Days were totally worth it!
Amy Fedrigo is LEAF’s Residential Planting Programs Assistant.