This week is all about those who donate their time and talents to a variety of causes and ask for nothing in return.
So was last week, it seems, and next week will be, too.
It’s National Volunteer Week, but a couple of local organizations have decided any time is a good time to recognize the generous support of hundreds of volunteers.
Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) will hold a volunteer recognition and appreciation event next Thursday at Hawk Ridge Golf and Country Club.
There will plenty of people to thank. OSMH has almost 300 volunteers, with 210 to 230 of them being active in any given month.
“These people are here because they want to be here. They know what they’re doing is important,” said Faye Blewett, volunteer resources co-ordinator at OSMH. “The volunteers are the hospitality portion of the hospital. They’re the ones greeting the patients, the visitors, the staff.”
They collectively contributed more than 42,000 hours of volunteer time to the hospital last year.
“I’m in awe,” Blewett said. “I’m always impressed by how dedicated these volunteers are.”
It is indeed impressive. At next week’s event, OSMH volunteers will be honoured for their years of service, ranging from five to 40.
It seems like OSMH has a lot of volunteers, but more are always needed.
“Every time we come up with ideas for a new program, we have to make sure we have enough volunteers to do it,” Blewett said.
The greatest need is for volunteers who can help out on evenings and weekends. Those interested can contact Blewett at [email protected] or 705-325-2201, ext. 3338.
Information Orillia got a jump on National Volunteer Week, holding its annual gala recently at Casino Rama, which donated the space and dessert.
The organization recognized volunteers who had contributed at least 150 hours.
“It’s an important thing to do. The volunteers are what make a lot of the organizations in our community successful,” said Ethan Mask, Information Orillia’s volunteer and youth engagement services manager.
During the gala, 192 volunteers from 26 organizations in the area were recognized. Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton was on hand to hand out certificates. He also purchased and handed out “Under One Roof” pins, which were created using the original copper that covered the roofs of Canada’s Parliament buildings from 1918 to 1996.
Cody Palmer-Almond, of the Ontario Volunteer Centre Network, was also there to thank the volunteers and remind of the importance of their service.
Some of the volunteers in attendance had contributed up to 500 hours per year, and included everyone from teens to seniors.
“It’s inspiring,” Mask said. “You hear a lot of talk about this generation, that generation. Age is not a factor when you want to help somebody else.”
Find out more about National Volunteer Week here.
