Orillia's Atrium Retirement Residence celebrated its volunteers Thursday as part of National Volunteer Appreciation Week.
Lana May, the facility's Life enrichment manager, says the 12 volunteers at the home help with bingo, greeting new residents, and lifting spirits of both the residents and staff.
"The volunteers are hugely essential to the happiness of our residents," she said. "They bring our residents so much joy, happiness, and laughter."
May says residents of the Coldwater Road home "have a lot of fun," and volunteers are a big part of that.
"Residents love it when the volunteers come in," she said. "Three of them bring in their dogs which are a huge part of pet therapy."
May says volunteers help give the Atrium a "family" environment.
"We are a smaller home," she said. "Everybody is always looking out for each other. It's great."
Home to 55 residents, the Atrium is currently at maximum capacity.
"We like that it's a smaller home," May said. "Everyone knows and cares for each other."
The Atrium is hoping for more volunteers to help lift spirits at the home.
"We recently had a Grade 9 student from Orillia Secondary School come in to play piano for us," May explained. "Those are the kinds of things we love."
May says staff and residents of the Atrium are "very welcoming."
"It's a really nice friendly place to be," she said. "Coming here is always an enjoyable experience."
Joyce Rostance, a resident ambassador at the Atrium, helps other residents where needed.
"I do anything I can to help," she said. "I like to help people and we are like a little community here. It's an enjoyable place to be."
Rostance, 89, says she is grateful for the volunteers who help at the Atrium.
"They are very important," she said. "We look forward to having them come to help us."
Rostance said she especially loves it when volunteers bring their pets.
"It brightens everybody's day," she said.
Joyce Whitmer, resident ambassador at the Atrium, says her sharp mobile skills allow her to help some of the other residents.
"I like helping with playing games and bingo," she said. "It gives me a lot of satisfaction, makes me happy, and keeps me involved."
Whitmer, 86, says volunteers "bring the morale right up" at the home.
"We are always so glad to see our volunteers," she said. "They are always so helpful and entertaining."
For more information about volunteering at the Atrium Retirement Residence, click here.
