Above: Carroll Spence, LHSC volunteer, carries a bin of toys through the Inpatient Paediatrics Unit.
April 20, 2026
Volunteering across generations
Carroll Spence represents the third generation of her family to contribute their time and energy to LHSC through volunteerism. Carroll’s mother volunteered for 25 years with the Child Life program at LHSC and her grandmother volunteered as a wayfinder (then known as a tour guide). But for Carroll, a former teacher, volunteering with LHSC was a choice born out of a desire to find connection and purpose following retirement.
“When I retired, I found myself looking for the type of fulfillment I got through my job and I was really missing my students,” says Carroll. “I needed something in my routine that would make me feel confident, valued, and accomplished, like I did in my career, and from hearing about my mother and grandmother’s experiences with volunteering, I thought I should give it a try.”
Her desire to connect with children led her to follow right in her mother’s footsteps, finding her place as a volunteer with Child Life, where she supports paediatric patients and their families through play and practical assistance. During a typical shift, Carroll connects with children who are feeling well enough to visit the playrooms to engage in games and crafts, delivers toys to those who are not, and helps create moments of normalcy during hospital stays. Her visits to patient rooms also give parents a moment to go grab a coffee, have time for themselves, or simply engage in a conversation unrelated to care and treatment. She finds this helps take their mind off the things their child is experiencing in the hospital.
When Carroll is not actively engaging with patients and their families, she helps lighten the workload of the Child Life team by cleaning toys and organizing the many playrooms.
“After a child plays with one of our toys, it has to be cleaned and put back where it came from. When I or the other volunteers aren’t on the floor, this task falls to the Child Life team who already have a significant amount of work to do,” says Carroll. “This is something the team is really aware of, and they are incredibly appreciative of our role and truly treat us as part of the team.”
For Carroll, the most meaningful experiences during her time as a volunteer happen around holidays like Halloween. During these times, the team goes above and beyond filling the playrooms with activities and the children who are able join together outside of their rooms to enjoy normal childhood experiences.
“Seeing the kids interact and enjoy those moments, even teenagers, is an important reminder of why the role matters,” she says. “Knowing that my role helps them just be kids and not patients, even for a moment, is so touching. I am grateful that I get to contribute to those experiences.”
The community that Carroll has found as a volunteer is also an important factor in why she continues to give her time at LHSC.
“There is a strong sense of community between volunteers – the Volunteer Services team, the volunteers themselves, and the teams we interact with in our placements,” says Carroll. “This role has given me a new group of people to feel connected to outside of my personal life. The Child Life team welcomed me instantly and having that connection with my mom being here before me adds another layer onto the relationship I have formed with the team.”
While family is a part of Carroll’s story, it was important for her to find her own place at LHSC just like those before her.
“The fact that we have all volunteered here is a nice addition to our individual experiences. It is something that connects us, but we all found our way here out of our own desire to give back,” says Carroll. “It is important that everyone finds their own journey, just like I have. Find something that speaks to you.”