Forward Emphasis: Rooted in Community, Driven by People
Giving Back Is Part of Who We Are At Forward…
When most people picture retirement, they imagine slowing down and taking it easy after decades of work. But for Gerry Grant, retirement became the beginning of a new chapter of purpose, connection, and community impact.
Just three weeks after retiring in 2022, he found himself picking up the phone to offer his help. Through his employment with the local development company in Donegal and as a supervisor on the TUS scheme, Gerry had long been connected to community improvement efforts. Volunteering was a natural extension of that commitment. The local charity he’d long supported was struggling to find someone to drive their van and manage deliveries. “I’d known they couldn’t get anyone to take it on,” he recalls. “So I rang them and asked, ‘I’ll drive the van for you until you find someone permanent.’ That was three and a half years ago, and I’m still here.”
Before retiring, Gerry spent 45 years working in sales and public facing roles that revolved around people. “Meeting people was always part of my life,” he says. “Now, through the charity, I still get to do that and it’s just as rewarding.”
As a volunteer driver, he collects donations from people’s homes and delivers goods to individuals and organisations who need them most. Each trip tells a story of gratitude and community spirit. “You see how thankful people are,” he says. “It’s important to let people know that they are understood and heard.”
After a lifetime of full-time work, many retirees struggle with the sudden change of pace. For Gerry, staying active and engaged was essential. “I’m physically fit and healthy, so I felt I should do something useful. I wanted to do something that helps people who are less well off, or families who might be vulnerable,” he explains.
Since joining the charity in June 2022, his reliability and dedication have made a real difference. “The section I work in has actually improved its turnover since I started,” he says proudly. “That’s not down to me alone, it’s teamwork. But I like to think my commitment to being there every week helps lighten the load.”
What stands out most in his story is how much he gains from giving. “Volunteering has given me a sense of self-worth after retirement,” he reflects. “It’s just as rewarding as getting a new job or earning a high wage, maybe even more. You feel like you’re still contributing, still part of something bigger.” The work is not about financial reward; it’s about heart. “No one’s in it for the money,” he says. “You do it because you care and because it feels good to make a difference.”
Along the way, he’s made new friends, forged new connections, and rediscovered what community really means. “It gives people confidence,” he says. “It reminds them they’re not alone, that there are people willing to help and in turn, you get that same support back.”
While the physical demands of his current role can be challenging at times, Gerry plans to keep volunteering for as long as he can. “If it ever gets too much, I’ll just move into a different role or maybe help another charity,” he says. “There’s always a way to contribute.”
His message to others, especially those entering retirement, is clear and heartfelt: “If you have a little time to spare, please consider volunteering. It’s rewarding. It gives back to your community. You will meet good, like-minded people who want to help others. Remember, you’re not just helping strangers; you’re helping the people you work with, and they help you too.”
In a world that often feels divided, Gerry’s story is a reminder of something simple but profound: kindness creates ripples. “It’s in our nature to help others,” he says. “And when you do, people always find a way to pay it back, maybe not to you directly, but to someone else down the line.”
For Gerry, retirement isn’t an ending, it’s a new beginning. One filled with purpose, compassion, and the quiet satisfaction of knowing that every mile driven, every delivery made, and every smile shared is making the community just a little bit stronger.
