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Fareshare has been second career for Clarke continued from p.1 "I, as well as most of the senior volunteers, knew there wasn't going to be a single person to step forward and take on all that I have been doing. We knew it was impossible because it's not a normal volunteer job," said Clarke, who spends 20-25 hours per week volunteering his time for Fareshare. "As a result, it will be a case of spreading the work around several volunteers." Having worked every job available at Fareshare, most recently, as its volunteer executive director, Clarke began working at the food bank in 1992 when he saw an article in the newspaper asking for volunteers and seized the opportunity. Soon after speaking with another volunteer who had learned of his background in accounting, Clarke was asked to take on a full-time role looking over the food bank's finances. As Fareshare began receiving an increase in monetary donations, Clarke decided a more personal touch would be needed to encourage those donors to keep supporting Fareshare in the future. "We needed to do a little bit more than putting a simple tax receipt in an envelope with a printed `Thank-you' card, which is what you get from 99 per cent of the charities," he said. "So, I got into the habit of using a (sticky) tab, at first, and writing just a few words and sticking it on the tax receipt, which made it more personable." It worked. Donors would send Clarke a note back with their next donation and in some cases, it would result in more than 15 years of correspondence with Fareshare supporters. 7 | Wednesday, April 3, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com The monetary donations to the food bank have increased dramatically over the years, to the extent that we are probably buying and giving out more food than the usual (non-perishable) staples. Fareshare food bank Dudley Clarke Dudley Clarke has been volunteering at Fareshare food bank for 21 years. Clarke took on the role after retiring from his career at age 63 and has been a mainstay at the food bank ever since. photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) "People appreciated that, it made them feel wanted; that someone took the time to write an appreciation of their gift," he said. Although he admits it's a bit disheartening that food banks are needed just as much today as they were when he first began volunteering, Clarke says his experience with Fareshare has taught him Oakville is one of the more generous towns in Canada. "We all know Oakville is a fairly affluent town... and that affluence has been reflected by the fact that the people in this town always supported the food bank. We've never run out of anything, foodwise; things have gotten short, but never run out," he said. "And quite honestly, the thing that's most pleasant of all is that the monetary donations to the food bank have increased dramatically over the years to the extent that we are probably buying and giving out more food than the usual (non-perishable) staples." With more than 20 years under his belt, Clarke says he has too many memories and highlights from his tenure at Fareshare to choose a favourite, but he does admit the thing he has enjoyed the most is when he hears back from former food bank clients experiencing better times. "If I needed any motivation to keep doing what I was doing during my time at Fareshare," he said, "it would be that." RBC Dominion Securities Inc. 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