Meet Donna

If there’s one thing we all love, it’s food. And Donna, September’s employee of the month, knows how food plays an important part in a client’s life.

“Food is connected to a client’s health, so it’s really important that they connect with the food they eat,” Donna said.

Donna spent 28 years working in hospitality. And in June 2022, she decided to follow her dreams of becoming a support worker. Fortunately, Donna brought her passion for cooking across with her.

Through her cooking, Donna has been able to connect with her clients. She feels that they are motivated to go shopping for ingredients, help cook meals, and assist with cleaning up afterwards.

“Food should be fun. If a client is excited for the meal they’re going to have, they’re going to want to help out,” she said.

“One client really enjoys mixing meatballs with his hands. It’s great to see him engaged and enjoying the task.”

In fact, Donna’s cooking passion has resulted in multiple clients achieving positive outcomes. With the help of her teammate, Donna had two clients sit down to have a home-cooked meal together.

Donna said that the best part of her day is seeing a client doing an activity they love, especially if they were reluctant at first.

“It’s such a great feeling when a client says that they loved getting out and doing something. I’d say it’s probably the best part of the job, it’s such an amazing feeling.”

When Donna’s not at work, you can likely find her reading a crime thriller novel, down at the beach, or cooking up a delicious meal.