Shawn Abbott is a kind, generous volunteer who donates his time and expertise in maintenance to Karis Disability Services, formerly known as Christian Horizons.
He makes time to help the organization with electrical work, replacing doors and windows, fixing leaks and building and replacing railings. All of this work directly benefits the charity, which supports individuals living with developmental disabilities that require assisted living.
“Karis is such a great organization, and the people there are super,” Abbott told OrilliaMatters. “But they don’t have anyone who can do these kinds of jobs, so I wanted to help.”
Staff at Karis say that not only is Abbott reliable and humble in the work he does, but he also always takes time to make the individuals supported by the organization feel special and takes a genuine interest in their interests.
“Some of the things we need done are not straightforward as we deal with individuals with special physical needs,” his anonymous nominator told OrilliaMatters. “He quietly goes about assisting with home maintenance and repairs, often making a huge difference in someone’s life in the areas of safety or accessibility.”
To let Abbott know that his kind deeds have not gone unnoticed, OrilliaMatters surprised him with a Random Act of Kindness to show our community’s gratitude for his work.
“I was just doing some jobs for Karis, when everyone surprised me!” Abbott shared, “It was quite a thrill, I would never have expected it. I am touched to have been nominated.”
Thank you to our generous co-sponsors, Home Hardware, for helping to make this Random Act of Kindness possible.
If you know someone in the community who deserves recognition for their selfless actions, positivity in the face of hardship, or just for being a great person, you can nominate them for a Random Act of Kindness award. Fill out our nomination form today!
If you would like to support our Random Acts of Kindness program, please email [email protected].
OrilliaMatters is proud to make a difference in our community by highlighting extraordinary individuals and organizations with our Random Acts of Kindness, a foundational piece of our OrilliaMatters Cares program.
The OrilliaMatters Cares team's mission is to create meaningful change in Orillia - and inspire others to do the same.
