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P SECTION A THE HERALD Wednesday April lM Volunteering Its a great way to grow Helping others To be a volunteer the tasks aren always easy and their work may sometimes be taken for granted but where would we be without help from volunteers In a community tike Halton Hills the town depends on many organizations who have people devoted to service because they thoroughly enjoy helping others Volunteers are unique individuals They re the type who honestly believe life has treated them well and in repayment for their good fortune they re willing to sacrifice some of their free time The Jobs volunteers take on provide the vital link for organizations so that they may run smoothly White on the subject of volunteer week it tant to mention those who supervise the work of those who offer their time free of charge It an art to be able to be a good manager but superior skills are needed to work competently with volun teers to motivate them and encourage them to make them feel their work la appreciated to praise even the most menial task for each job is important to the running of a volunteer organization The watchword of volunteerlsm is do what you can Mother Teresa of Calcutta perhaps defined the best meaning of what volunteerlsm means to the world We feel ourselves that what we are doing Is Just a drop in the ocean But If that drop was not In the ocean I think the oceans would be less because of that missing drop households benefit from Meals on Wheels By ROBIN Herald SUN Area seniors who may not be able to fully cope on their own can at least depend on one hot meal a day Georgetown Meals on Wheels program Is a T dinners The meal The problem Is usually consist of soup Ing enough volunteers to meat and potatoes and fill In when there is a GO volunteers who provide over borne delivered meals month ly Coordinator Peggy Sut tie worth explained that most of the red plents live alone Meals on Wheels not only provides hot meals but also gives seniors contact with someone from outside their home she aald Applicants are first screened by a public health nurse and If eligible are referred to the program The whole process starts in Milton where a Georgetown volunteer picks up the meals from the Centennial Manor They are packed In various camping coolers which keep the meals warm and make for easy transportation Once the meals arrive In Georgetown they are divided into two routes from which point tbey are delivered About prepared meals are cold day by the time you get to the last ones they may need to be popped in the oven explained Mrs Suttle This proves to be no problem as the pack aging resembles that of Vetofltetr Pearl flashes quick nolle as she prepares for deliveries with the Meals on Wheels program Herald photo need for them Without volunteers it Just wouldn t exist Mrs Suttleworth says Meals on Wheels is financially supported by a grant from the Mini of Community and Social Services and donations from various churches and clubs a portion of vegetables One of the problems Mrs faces Is the shuffling about of the volunteer workers Since the working sche dule changes from day today some volunteers may forget when are needed HOSPICE Serving the needs of the terminally ill By ROBIN BAKEWELL Staff After a public meet Ing attended by anyone who cared for the ter minally ill It was resol ved that various groups involved have the time or money for proper palliative care It was through this meeting three years ago that the North Hospice organ was formed a commu nity volunteer service dealing with the needs and emotions of termi nally Hi people A member volunteer team end a nine member Board of Directors are the main factors which make the system work Board of Directors President Karen Fer guson feels Hospice is able to bring to the patient and family some quality to the time hey have left togeth er It Is so satisfying to go Into a situation that is In so much turmoil and seeing them the family resolve a lot of Thanks to the volunteers at Maple Narsery School the coop program has been able to take on extra projects and allow the paid staff to do their Jobs more effectively Its a unique experience where mothers and fathers can observe then- own child while working with other youngsters Seen treat the school are youngsters left to right Carl Newman Danny Morris Danny Sitting left to right Is Howard the school director and Penny Richardson Standing In the back row is left Ruth Hunter and Maureen Herald photo Nursery school workers assist with kids programs ByDAVEROWNEY Staff An outsider might comment about how smoothly the programs at Maple Nursery School run but only the insiders appreciate the behindthescenes planning The Insiders at the Cedar vale Hall based school are Tor he most part volunteers The coop nursery school began in 1967 for children 3 years There arc four paid staff members and as many as parent volunteers who take turns supervis ing the children Says director Leona Howard I want to be without them the volunteers The pa rents are called participators who come in once every two weeks Tor about three hours Tbey assist the teach ers in the everyday running of the school If they have special talents such as pottery the children might be treated to a different type of activity A volunteer board of directors is selected to take care of live needs such as planning finance fund raising and publicity Parents will volunteer for special duties when the need arises such as when handicapped children came to the school Last year Ruth Hunter Mary Carney Cathy Edwards Rita Davidson and Linda all offered their timo to work extra hours with the capped children Fathers are coming in to help out as well as mothers says Howard Either they re house husbands or working on shifts which enables them to use their free time at the school We gel them to bikes and tackle try Jobs while they re here but they still have to scrub pots like the rest of us grins Ms Howard Extra work taken on by volunteers allows the children to go on trips to the cultural centre restau rant a farm apple- pick tog and other ex curs Ions President of the board of directors is Maureen who now has her fourth child enrolled at the school She enjoys work the children i fellow teachers as as watching what awn child is doing Auxiliary staff helps with variety of duties Hospice J the some to the time a patient fcm Mrs Ferguson stered nurse and former patient services coor dlnator with Hospice sees the service pro viding a link with the community If a patient is in a local hospital or at home and is transferr ed to a hospital in a different locality the Hospice volunteer involved is encouraged to visit that person and keep tbem Informed on what happening at home One of the major goals Mrs Ferguson would like North Halton Hospice to achieve Is Incorporation Into tho hospital system This would Involve finding additional space which the local hospitals may not have and a certain amount of hospital responsibility lor Hospice Mrs Ferguson cites funding as a major obstacle Hospice la currently funded by a 000 regional grant on in memorlams from families and funds from Iho United Way ByBRENDA BEAUMONT Herald Special Anyone who has entered the Georgetown and District Memorial Hospital as a patient or visitor Is sure to nave encountered one of the many volunteers there The teenagers called Candy Stripers easily identlfl ed by their new red smocks the ladles by their aqua smocks and men In white coats all wearing the hospital auxiliary association crest The teenage volun teers work on the wards after school and week ends Approximately hours are given each year by these dedicated Red Cross thanks Dear Sir This year April 23 to has been set aside as National Volunteer Week I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your efforts during the last year Your personal commitment to the Red Cross and to this community have made this a most successful year for our branch National Volunteer Week is a time when we should encourage other In our community to join with us as volunteers The Red Cross needs more volunteers lo meet the challenge of the BO If you know someone who would be an active Red Cross volunteer invite them to with us I look forward to this exciting new year and take great pleasure In working with you as we our community through our mutual efforts In this branch Yours truly Mrs Janet Dean Red Cross Branch Georgetown District teenagers Adult volunteers and female the association la no longer Help is given on the wards every morning and evening Monday to Friday and every HAINES a women auxiliary open the gift shop for three shifts each day and a gilt cart is taken onto the wards every afternoon for those paU who cannot leave their rooms morning transporting patients to physio the ra Once a week a group of ladies do washing setting and cutting hair of long term patients Helping Hand Jane adopted By Herald Staff While attending Gill University in Mon treat Jane would visit a nearby nursing home where two thirds of the people had no living relatives 1 enjoy the company of older people they have a lot to share and I find it satisfying to be helping someone Jane Is part of the Friendly Visiting Program which Is run under he guidance of Halton Helping Hands Founded in 1972 Halt on Helping Hands is a region wide home support service for the frail elderly and per nuwently disabled on restricted incomes Funding is provided by tho nee of Ontario Region of local municipalities and the United Way The aim of the agency is to enable clients to live independently within the community for as long as possible ONGOING The Friendly Visiting Program sets up ongo ing individual relation ships between a client and a suitable teer The person I visit treat me like I from Help ing Hands I ve been visiting there for one and a half years and wo treat each other as good friends you sort of get adopted Mrs Adshead says Mrs became involved with the Friendly Visiting Pro gram after she took some time off work as an occupational thero plst to raise her family I found I had some spare time on my hands and missed being around elderly people After I saw an ad in the paper I called up and got involved The Friendly Visiting Program has who spend about three hours a week with iheir clients Once every few months meetings are set up to deal with any problems that occur in program I haven had any pro blems that I can think of explained Mrs LESS INHIBITED One or nicer ngs Mra Adshead enjoys about working with elderly people Is the fact that they seem be less inhibited I find them very honest and they say exactly what they think Mrs Adshead went on to explain that while younger people seem to take things for granted even very little things done for the elderly are treated as though they were a big deal Photos are taken the new born babies hospital is decorated at Christmas time and recently a library ser vice has commenced But there are many who arc not so visible yet giving time as volun The ladies who make knitted garments for the gift shop the Brownie pack who make delightful favours for patients on holidays and special occasions the committee members convenors schedulers and others who help with fund raising events More volunteers will be needed when the hospital extension Is in use To Join or find out more about the Hospital Auxiliary Association contact the coordinator of volunteers Brendo Beaumont Jane has been visiting a friend through Helping Hands for a year and a WANTED volunteers 1 Office work phone clerical typing for a volunteer organization Friendly visitors to assist seniors with shopping Board members for Block Parents Hospital Volunteers Telephone gift shop drivers Big Brothers friend to fatherless boys people helping people to make nn adjustment into the communl Nursery school volunteers Volunteers for distress line Tutor for basic reading For more information call the Volunteer Centre at Butt Red Cross volunteer for 14 years By KAREN Herald Special As a Red Cross volun the kind of leader ship and dedication demonstrated by Betty Armstrong over the past 14 years Is hard to find She first became involved with the Red Cross In after tak a home nursing course offered by the local branch The course sparked her interest so much that Betty went on to assist Instructor Dorothy Bergman In a subscqu- Lent course As her commitment to the Red Cross gained momentum over the years Betty become district campaign co ordinator in 1979 and continued with the role during the 1980 and campaigns It a sort of like an addiction once you start you cant stop she quipped good when asked why decided to become a volunteer Most people Start because they want to do constructive with their spare time I like working with people I ve been on sickroom supplies since The sickroom loan equipment service Is one of many areas In which the Red Cross goes unrecognized As Betty explained wheel chairs commodes crut ches canes raised toilet scats and walkers can all be borrowed from the Red Cross Society free of charge for up to two months Cancer patients are exempt from the two- month time limit as the equipment was initially donated by the Cancer Society Many terminal patients may need the high low beds for up to a year Patients may ask for on the due date necessary Referrals to the Red Cross sickroom loan equipment service are made by hospitals health units and doc tors said Mrs Arm strong I think most people really appreciate the availability of sick room equipment Many are surprised it free loan service no deposit required Mrs Armstrong volunteer contributions to the community do not stop here For two years from she ARMSTRONG was the driving for Red Cross Corp a division of the Cross which provided transportation to patients to and from appointments In various cities fleet of uniformed drivers offered a we come service to the elderly and many local convalescent patients who depended on the Red Cross to get to their checkups The service was phased out with the Introduction of local ambulance service in 1982 but Georgetown volunteers still drive local people to request Betty Is also great in an emergency When a derailment spilled dan gerous chemicals into ports or several years ago Betty was on the scene at the international centre In Mnlton caring for cuees In an earlier Red Cross emergency response Betty worked at the Port Credit oil refinery fire Its rewarding I think we all find its rewarding said Betty adding the friendship with other volunteers Is great But Bettys commit to community service goes beyond day Involvement a recent participant in a diet research pro ject her contribution may benefit others for many years to come After a referral from her doctor sent her to the Ludwig Institute for diet related cancers at Princess Margaret pita Betty agreed to take part in a study to determine the effects of low fat diets on cancer of the breast colon and bowel One of women being studied Betty was first asked to record a week eating habits in a diary Based on her eating pattern dletlcl ana at the Institute developed a personal diet which would be easy for Betty to follow Asked whether stick ing to the diet was tough Betty said no Its Just great Its the kind of diet hat makes you feel well She added that being a part of the research project has been a real Incen tive to Btay with It In addition to her family and Red Cross commitments Betty actually finds time lo work in he as part of the hospital auxiliary