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Her birth certificate may say ‘Noreen’, but to most people she’s simply ... Coy PUG: S “| do tt because | love it”, says Toots, of her lifetime of volunteering in what she refers to as “a caring community”. Most people call Noreen Malcolm “Toots,” but another good nickname for her would be The Energizer Bunny, because like the old television com- mercial says, she keeps going and going and going.... At age 91, this young-at-heart Blackstock lady is still winning awards for her volunteer work. She was recently honoured, by Scugog Township Mayor Tom Rowett, by being included in the 2015 Mayor’s Honour Roll. Sixty-five years ago, she began her volunteer work with Port Perry Community Memorial Hospital, and 63 years ago, she spearheaded the organization of the local hospital auxiliary. Toots still attends auxiliary meetings, “and I speak up!” she says enthusiastically. She proudly wears a string of pins on her smock, commemorating over 50 years of commu- nity service with the auxiliary. She has life memberships from the hospital and the provincial government. Toots was asked to sit on the first hospital board, and she was an elder at Blackstock United Church, back in the day when most of the elders were male. She’s a life member of the W.I. and the UCW. “I do it because I love it,” Toots said on the subject of volunteer- ing. “I have been fortunate to live in a fantastic, caring community, and I like to give back.” As an auxiliary member, her fondest memories are of greeting and comforting day surgery patients. “Many patients are uptight, and I did what I could to help them feel bet- ter,” Toots recalls. Whether it was a warming blanket or a warm hug, her kindness was appreciated. “I feel that I received more than I ever gave,” she commented. Toots remembers when auxiliary members would make homemade jam to bring to the hospital patients. Times have changed; this wouldn’t be allowed today, she pointed out. Still a good cook, Toots was famous for winning prizes at Blackstock fair for everything from jam to pickles to choco- late cake. (Her squares are delicious, by the way.) Toots likes py | putting on the luncheon for her bridge club. Yes, Toots still plays bridge. f ae “I love it and they say it’s good for me,” she says. Toots still cleans her own house, and it’s spotless. “Why should I just sit here in a chair and watch someone else do it?” she asked. f She still tends her own beautiful flower gardens. And up until recently, she still cleaned her own windows - un- Please turn to page 24 = FOCUS - MARCH 2015 23