( Intell My f, 2006 p 14 Kristina Patterson was handed the Ruth Burrows Awa rd at a volunteer breakfast on Saturday. The award is x annually to an individual who has made an outstanding and exceptional community. contribution to the Ruth Burrows Award winner g,!166 p Kristina Patterson has boundless energy coil ea tered er the Ruth Burrows Award on Saturday hte As a member of the Belleville Police Service, morning. The award — presented tterson is paidto to an individual whi ae mee community abet- made an outstan Aing oh ce. exceptional i After ug leaves work, fe oaicunlt pe te : Fo no finan- handed to Patterson during e i evar or continuing ies Volunteer and Informa- Patterson's involvement at eee: aise Hee z fast at the Ramada Inn. opment Council, Lattes for * See ‘Patterson’ see - comm it police officer at CFB Petawawa, — Kastinag Rdero, Patterson _ Story continued from page 1. “It’s an honour to win this award. It was completely unex- pected,” Patterson said. Thirty-eight-year-old a er Though Patterson is now instructing at the Ontario Police College in Aylmer, she will con- tinue to support groups and cause: the Quinte region. She specifically mentioned the ich she has | son has been giving back to baby food drive whi unity both professionally already co-ordinated for six and unprofessionally since she ye was 19. Beginning her law enforcement career as a mili ars. “It may be long distance but ] I'm hoping to possibly employ | some of the younger officers of | our service. Isn't €- anamaz-— she saw the benefits of volun- ing thing?” she said laughing. teering at a young age. “Through high school and public school I always had time and it amazed me that could hold down full-time jobs, Avi liked that concept ... a devotion of volunteering to the people and not just the activi- ty. These coaches influenced Pat- terson to not only become a vol- unteer herself, but to follow in their footsteps in her approach to volunteering. Though she does volunteer with a of recognized organizations she is always cognizant of the people’ in the community who she is” assisting. She said organizations play a “huge part” in her decisions as a volunteer but it always boils | down to the impact it will have | on the community. “I live and work in Belleville and this community gave me a lot when I was growing up. I went to school here and I had amazing, amazing mentors as far as coaches are concerned, counselors in the schools .... I have the privilege of coming back and working in this com- munity which gives me the abil- ity Me give something back,” she sai Patterson, who is now a staff sergeant with Belleville police, said she believes by donating her time and committing h to special projects, she is continu- ing that circle of providing help.| Being involved with many groups can often help simply by name recognition, she said. Because she is known as a vol- unteer she hopes when people hear she is associated with an event or a group it will entice others to either support a cause financially or by volunteering themselves.