Maximizing the resources at his disposal is what motivates Michael Langner's volunteerism.
A long-time South Cariboo volunteer, Langner is the president of both Loaves and Fishes 100 Mile House and the 100 Mile House Lions Club. Despite his leadership role, however, Langner told the simplymastery he prefers to stay invisible, crediting the teams he's helped build at both organizations for the good they do in the community.
"I just try to help wherever I can. Whatever I do for Loaves and Fishes or the Lion's Club, it's not about me. I just try to navigate our people to work in the most efficient way it could be done," Langner said. "Most work is done by all our helpers, I am just a little light. I couldn't do anything without all the helpers and we are really very fortunate we have a community like 100 Mile where we get a lot of donations from business people and Christians who obey God's word."
Originally from Germany, Langner moved to the South Cariboo in May of 2007 after retiring from running his own asphalt company in Germany. He remarked he chose Canada for the freedom it provides, explaining he felt constrained in his home country by increasing laws and regulations. As a bonus, he noted he knew that the 100 Mile House area is home to a large number of German expats.
It was through one of his fellow immigrants Langner got his first taste for volunteering. A few years after the move a friend suggested he come join the 100 Mile House Lions Club and Langner agreed. Around the same time he became involved with Loaves and Fishes through his church, Cariboo Christian Life Fellowship.
"When I was in Germany I didn't have the time (to volunteer)," Langner said. "Now I have time, I'm not busy except for chopping wood."
At Loaves and Fishes Langner said he was mentored by Trudy Endacott, the founder of 100 Mile House's Loaves and Fishes, who continues to advise him as one of the group's directors. He soon learned how the food bank bought and stored its food and would help with distributing it every month.
As time went on, however, Langner began to notice ways the charity could improve its services. Little things like creating a system for storing food and tools, finding the best deals possible and working to get the most out of every dollar were all habits he began to encourage and then model as he took on a more leading role. Just last year one of his long-term projects, installing a new ATCO Trailer to store food in, finally came to fruition, expanding what Loaves and Fishes can offer the community.
Langner explained he views himself as a steward of the money donated to Loaves and Fishes by members of the community. It's his duty to ensure that money can do the most good possible, which is why he'll drive from Williams Lake to Kamloops to chase down deals.
When asked what he finds most rewarding about volunteering, Langner replied it's the small things that really stand out to him and how much they impact people.
"When we bought for $200 some little chocolates for Valentines' Day and put them in a nice bag and wrote the names of (Fischer Place residents on them) and gave them to those people there. It's a really small, tiny thing but people are so appreciative of it," Langner remarked. "They love to see that other people care for them."
With the Lions Club, Langner said their primary goal is to raise money locally every year and then reinvest it locally. Over the years they've supported several different projects and organizations in town including the 100 Mile House District Hospice Palliative Care Society and the 100 Mile House & District Blind & Visually Impaired White Cane Club. They'll also help cover travel expenses for those travelling out of town for cancer treatments and other health concerns and give scholarships to students graduating from Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School.
These days their primary fundraising method is their annual raffle they run every summer where they sell 2,000 tickets and raise around $9,500 for the society. Once again Langner noted it's all thanks to community support they're able to help people in the community.
When asked how it feels to now be president of these two organizations he joined over a decade ago, Langner said he simply tries to lead by example and show people the way he wants them to do things.
"Our secretary, Lydia Kendall, from the Lions she always tells me the truth. She tells me I need to speak a little louder, that you are the president and I always tell her I really like to be invisible," Langner remarked. "I'm not the kind of guy who wants to say 'that's me and where I am, that's the front.' In Germany, we say 'I cannot crawl out of my own skin', you know. I'm the 'big shot', but that's not who I am at the Lions Club or Loaves and Fishes. It just works because all our members, they all work together."
Whether he is volunteering with the Lions or with Loaves and Fishes, Langner said his faith is never far from his mind. He explained he keeps the works from Mark 12, verse 31 close to his heart.
"This says 'Love your neighbour, as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.' It's one of the main commandments we should obey, in my opinion," Langner said. "I don't do great things, I just do small things with great love."
Loaves and Fishes is open from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Wednesday in the trailer beside Hillside Community Church for those in need of food.
