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11 | W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,A pril 15,2021 w aterloochronicle.ca ...Your Home Exterior Experts! We are: • Fully insured ($5,000,000.00 liability) • WSIB compliant • Authorized Installer for the Home Depot Reuter Roofing is a full-service certified roofing contractor with over thirty years of experience in all areas of roofing services. We also offer a roofing repair service. You can count on Reuter Roofing for Speedy, reliable service when you need it most. We offer affordable solutions for everyone. Protect your investment with a reliable roof. We provide free estimates. Seen on Don't wait, call us today 226-989-5897 National Volunteer Week Stories from Volunteer Action Centre Waterloo Region 1. A Story of Solidarity By Serap Tezgel It was a warm day in July 2020. My neighbourhood was quiet. Few people were walking on the street. The traffic on Victoria Road was also less than usual. I was sitting by myself in my garden. Due to Covid-19, no one was outside. We had been staying at home since Canada's first Covid-19 death in March. I was in a panic for the first two months and was constantly looking at the news, trying to understand what the virus was and What were its effects. However, as the weather got warmer, I started to spend more time in the garden. I started to wonder about my neighbours and how they were dealing with this situation? Did they need any help? Finally, on a warm day in July, I decided to knock on my neighbour's doors. I rang the doorbell of about ten houses that day. A few of the doors did not open. But I met with those who did, from a two-meter distance. Some conversations were long, some short. We talked about what my neighbours missed and needed on these difficult days. An elderly neighbour, who lived alone, complained about not being able to clean her house. I offered to help, and she accepted! We arranged a day, and I showed up. Another neighbour said she missed eating out at the restaurant. I offered to set up a dining table for her in my garden. I prepared a vegetarian dinner on the balcony. Conversation and food have helped us establish a friendship. Value - My other neighbours were very happy that I had knocked on their door and asked how they were doing. Whenever we meet on the road now, we stop and chat. This epidemic made me meet my neighbours. Now, I have two good friends in my neighbourhood. Continued on page 12