Phyllis Ireland’s Journey with PwYF

Phyllis Ireland, grandmother to Chelsea Steenbock and great-grandmother to Jack Low, shares her story about how she began her volunteer journey with Play with Your Food.

I would say my involvement began with the trip to Livingston. Chelsea invited her other Grandma, Evelyne, and me to spend the weekend there with her and Jack. Eve and I know nothing about gaming, always said we would never play games, but went along anyway because we were always up for a weekend away.

We had such a fun time meeting new friends and attending the wine and beer tasting events. Jack even convinced us to play a simple game, which was a surprise! But our big thrill was hitting all the thrift stores – what a treasure hunt that turned out to be and has since become a new tradition, wherever we go.

When we returned from Livingston, Chelsea and Matt quickly teamed up to re-start PwYF post-pandemic. As a good grandmother, I supported Chelsea’s decision and offered to volunteer, so long as I didn’t have to play any games! So, Eve and I began our journey with volunteering at the door for the 24-hour event – another highlight! That experience was truly inspirational for me. I’ll never forget seeing Chrystal from Carmichael in tears, completely overwhelmed by the amount of money raised last year, more than $86,000! It was a powerful reminder of the impact this community can have.

Since then, we’ve attended many other non-gaming events. We enjoyed the Victorian tea tasting afternoon, the Drag Queen breakfast, and the comedy night. Each event brought laughter, joy, and connection. Beyond that, I make items and grow plants for the annual online auction, another way I can contribute.

It didn’t take long for me to recognize what a valuable program PwYF is to the community and to Carmichael Outreach, in particular. Supporting Chelsea, Henrik, and Jack has become a part of my life. Honestly, it’s the easiest volunteering I’ve ever done – and I never need to work a bingo!

As you’ve probably gathered, I do not like playing games. But I know gaming is extremely popular, and I’ve seen firsthand how it brings people together. So if you want to make new friends and help the houseless and hungry, don’t hesitate to join this group of wonderful, fun-loving people.