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Local family knocks it out of the park with contribution to local baseball team and food bank

Coming together as a team - 'That's the community'
2020-03-30TheKhansMK
Carolyn and Faraz Khan take a 'family shift' at the Bradford food bank, pre-packing boxes and bags of food for clients. Miriam King/Bradford Today

For Carolyn and Faraz Khan, it’s all about being a team player. Literally.

Whether its being part of Bradford’s ‘baseball family’, or working together to fill boxes with non-perishable food for clients at the Helping Hand Food Bank, they support each other – and the community.

Moving to Bradford in 2010, Faraz was initially drawn to volunteer because of his children’s engagement in baseball  – although both he and Carolyn also played slo-pitch, in the Sluggers’ League.

It started about eight years ago, when daughter Olivia signed up for softball.

“I was asked to help coach a select softball team,” Faraz remembered. “I was asked to help get that program started… Then it was multiple team coaching. Then it was, ‘you’re spending this much time, you may as well be on the board’!”

He served for a time on the Bradford Storm executive, involved in successful efforts to bring hardball back to Bradford West Gwillimbury.

And although other commitments – both work and a new coaching gig: two sons are now in minor hockey “and guess who’s now coaching? They needed coaches.” – have caused him to reduce the hours he spends with minor ball, he is still committed to the game.

He has a very personal reason for stepping up. It’s not only to give back to the community, it’s to bring the family together as a team.

Faraz’s own parents broke up at a young age. As a child, he didn’t have the opportunity to play minor ball, to feel that family support, pride and encouragement as he played a minor sport.

“I’m hoping to kind of break the cycle,” said Faraz. Kids learn from example, “100 percent.” he said. “You have to change the cycle.”

It  gives him tremendous satisfaction, to watch his own kids play. “I like seeing them on the field, because I didn’t get that as a kid.”

Faraz may have done all the coaching, but Carolyn – who trained as a teacher – provided the logistical support, as part of the Bradford Storm baseball family. At times it was more like choreography, with multiple kids in multiple rep teams, playing in different locations around Southern Ontario.

But Carolyn also had her own volunteer interests. About eight years ago, she became involved in the local Helping Hand Food Bank.

“I joined the Holy Martyrs of Japan team (of volunteers) because I wanted to do something, because my kids were still young at the time,” Carolyn said.

It was only a “once a month thing” – at first. Two years later, when the food bank needed more members on its board, she stepped up, “and that was it.”

She went from volunteering once a month, to volunteering whenever needed, stocking the shelves, finally roping in Faraz and the kids to help out.

“If you can, you just give. You see a need and fill it,” she said, which is why she also volunteered for the Bradford Community Meal’s Board, where she serves as Secretary.

Things have changed greatly, during the COVID-19 crisis. Now, social gatherings of more than 5 people are banned, and instead of inviting clients to come in and “shop” for themselves at the food bank, volunteers pre-fill boxes and bags with non-perishable food, to be handed out when the food bank is open.

It means less choice, but there have been no complaints. “I think the clients are just happy we’re still open,” Carolyn said.

“We’re doing our best to keep this place open,” she added. “We know this is one of the most essential places in town now.”

With so many closures and layoffs, there is a sense that anybody could find themselves in need of the support the food bank provides, and the need will only grow.

It’s the teamwork – the support both of the volunteers and the clients – that hold things together.

“Our clients are fabulous,” said Carolyn. “That’s the community.”

Faraz has been impacted as well. Work has dried up, as a result of the pandemic and business closures, so he has stepped up his volunteer efforts at the food bank.

They both are clear about their reasons for volunteering: “Satisfaction, 100 percent, because we’re helping people.”

There are limits, though. The Khans’ daughter is now into curling. Will Faraz step up there, too?

He shook his head. “No! I don’t know anything about curling.”


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Miriam King

About the Author: Miriam King

Miriam King is a journalist and photographer with Bradford Today, covering news and events in Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil.
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