The benefits of working at a non-profit: Let Nikki tell you why she has been with Hope’s Home for over 10 years!

Hope’s Home has been a registered non-profit organization for 14 years. Throughout those years we have grown the business to include a 24 hour home for children with complex medical needs, which we call Supportive Living and inclusive Early Learning & Childcare centres in Regina, Warman, and Prince Albert;. With all the expansions and changes, we have had some amazing staff members that have stuck with us since (basically) the beginning.

We felt that those staff members deserved to be highlighted and acknowledged for all the hard work and dedication they have shown. This mini series will showcase those staff members and why they chose Hope’s Home as their career.

We are starting off with the beautiful Nikki Hauck, who is currently our Administrative Assistant at our Regina South location. She is absolutely incredible – always helping out where needed, getting things back to you super speedy, and doing everything with a smile on her face. She is a joy to have at Hope’s Home.

1. How long have you been at Hope’s Home? What positions have you all held here? Give a little explanation about each one.

I have been at Hope’s Home for almost 12 years. I worked as a full time Developmental Worker for 10 years. In that time I also started up an art program with the kids. It involved planning different art projects with each group weekly. I did that for about a year and ended it off with a big art show held at the MacKenzie Art Gallery. It showcased all of the kids amazing art work and raised some excellent funds for Hope’s Home. I went on Maternity leave in 2018 and when I came back in 2019 I started in my administrative role.

2. What is the main factor that’s made you stay at Hope’s Home this long?

There are 3 reasons why I have stayed at Hope’s Home for so long: It’s the kids, the staff, and all of the families that we support. When you work with the same kids everyday, they become family to you and you love them as if they are. You become so close with the families because you are communicating with them everyday and are working with their kids to achieve the same goals and celebrating with them when they meet those goals! You also become family to your co-workers. Some days are hard and really challenging but when you work with great staff you become super close and are each others biggest support system. Some of the best people I know are people I have met at Hope’s Home.

3. How have you seen the organization change from when you started to how it is now?

When I first walked in the doors at our College Ave location there were about 8 kids and only a handful of staff. We took turns making lunch for the kids. It was like being a big family in a big house. A few months later the kids started to roll in and it just blew up after that. We grew out of the College Ave location pretty quickly and opened few classrooms at Regina Christian School to accommodate the growing number of children.  Then the new locations in the province began to open and it has just been growing ever since. With that being said, Hope’s Home has still kept its family feel.

4. How have you seen Hope’s Home impact the community you live and work in?

When I used to get asked where I worked, people didn’t know what Hope’s Home was. Now when I get asked, I always get the comments of “Wow what an amazing place to work. I have heard so many wonderful things.” It’s so rewarding to hear all the parents stories of how this organization has impacted their lives.

5. What is your favourite Hope’s Home memory or moment?

One of my favorite memories was watching a little boy I worked with, accept the Child of the Year Award for all of his accomplishments. He was the first little face I saw on my first day at Hope’s Home. He faced many hardships and I was able to watch him overcome them – like helping him learn to walk and starting to communicate. How lucky am I that I get to be a part of this wonderful organization?!

That’s why there’s no place like Hope. ❤️