TONY – VOLUNTEER

Some know him as the crazy pink guy, some know him as the super volunteer, but the kids, youth and mothers of Warden Woods just know him as good ol’ Tony. Dedicated, hard working and generous, Tony Gentile has sacrificially volunteered his time and skills to UrbanPromise Toronto (UPT) for the past three years in hopes of curbing hopelessness and abandonment. Growing up in a middle-class suburban home, Tony didn’t realize how much inner-city communities were suffering until a message given at his church sparked his curiosity.
      “I come from a different economic background and culture, but on the level of not having stability in the home, that’s where I have a lot in common with them and that’s where I want to change things,” said Tony, who grew up in a violent home environment.
      With nothing but basic construction skills to use, Tony started out by helping UPT convert an old plaza into suitable camp space. This short-term project turned into a weekly routine of providing a safe and fun environment by fixing whatever was broken…to building basketball nets!
     “Kids have a hard enough time in this area as it is that when they go somewhere after school, they shouldn’t have to worry about (facility issues), they should be able to focus on their homework and having fun,” he said.
      What shocked Tony the most when he first arrived was how there were virtually no fathers in the community. Heartbroken by this reality, he has not only reached the neglected and abandoned children/youth, but their mothers who struggle to keep their homes together.
      That’s why these days, Tony now helps the mom’s ministry with basic renovations that might not otherwise get done and he’s seen the incredible difference it makes.
      “(Mothers) go from being overwhelmed because things are broken and in disarray to now having a place where things are fixed and tidy, it seems to inspire them and give them a little more hope and take some sadness out of their lives,” said Tony, who wears his famous pink uniform to uplift heavy hearts…and soften his rugged construction image!
      By coming alongside mothers in this simple way has given them a sense of ownership over their homes and motivation to succeed not only in the community of Warden Woods, but in life.
To the kids and youth, who used to glance at him from afar, Tony has gained their trust by proving people won’t always abandon them. This kind of stability, he stresses, is paramount in the restoration of inner-city families and is where he finds the most reward.
     “I’m at a point now where a lot people in the community are on a first-name basis with me, they know who I am…bit by bit, as you build relationships, you have to look not so much at your coming in to volunteer but your coming in to partner with these people to be a positive influence in their life,” Tony said when asked about what motivates him.
      Tony hopes to begin training youth to work with their hands as an alternative to getting stuck in the cycle of violence and crimes.
     “If there’s people out there that will care about them and are willing to invest in their lives, it’s a positive influence that gives them a sense of hope that even if things aren’t going well in the home, at least they have a place like UPT where they have a decent place to play, learn basic skills and be invested in as a person,” said Tony, who believes volunteering and mentorship is the best way to reach children and youth in our city.