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16 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday February 20, 2009 www.oakvillebeaver.com Volunteers important in health promotion Y ou may not have spent much time thinking about the impact of volunteers in our community, but everyone involved with promoting healthy lifestyles understands their contribution first hand. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, there are about 180,000 voluntary organizations across Canada, consisting of 6.5 million volunteers. It also reports that volunteers in the health sector contribute three billion hours every year, providing programs, doing health research, educating the public, and mobilizing the community by organizing people and events and encouraging others to get involved. Here in Halton Region, Choices 4 Health is a network of individuals and organizations committed to improving the health of our citizens. People who give their time are the backbone of the entire network -- volunteers working on Choices 4 Health projects logged more than 5,000 hours of unpaid work in 2008. "As impressive as that is, we believe the number of hours is in fact much higher than this," said Lynn Roblin, Choices 4 Health co-ordinating committee chair. "There are many other kinds of volunteers working for the community organizations that support our network and their time isn't even captured in our reports." Anne Hay is one of those volunteers. She works with Fresh Food Box, a program that offers boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables at a discounted rate for families in need. Hay says the program couldn't exist without volunteers. "We have 200 active volunteers who measure and pack the boxes, organize the packing days, and deliver the boxes to 26 drop-off sites around Halton Region," she said. Most of the volunteers put in eight to 10 hours each month and Anne says that they fill a great need in the community, getting nutritious food to people who could not otherwise afford it. "For me, it's about giving back to a community that has been good to me and my family over the years," she says. Choices 4 Health and its many volunteers are supported by the skills and expertise of more than 50 staff members of the Halton Region Health Department. Choices 4 Health is a community coalition of more than 250 individuals and organizations working together to create a Halton in which people achieve optimum health by choosing opportunities for healthy eating, physical activity, good mental health and smoke-free living. Choices 4 Health is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, and supported by community partners and the Halton Region Health Department. -- Submitted by Choices for Health · 3 piece Sofa sets & Sectionals in many designer colours leather & microfibre · Oak, Mahogany & Cherrywood 9 pc. Dining Room Suites, some with matching buffets & hutches. · 8 pc. Bedroom Suites including European Designs, 4 Poster sets · Hand carved Fern Stands · Bathroom Vanities with sink k · Huge selection of Classical style hall mirrors · Quality Mattress & Box Spring ng sets in single, double, queen or king, from the highest quality pillow to economical sets YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS AUCTION · Bombay Chest · 10 pc Counter heights dinette dinette t set (variety of finishes) · Wall Clocks · Curio Stands · Electronics · Lamps · Limited Edition artworks including Bateman & The Group of Seven · Figural Pieces · Grandfather Clocks · Tiffany Style Lamps · Stainless Cookware sets · Sports Memorabilia · Bronze FURNITURE & ELECTRONICS 1 DAY ONLY And Still Much More! Subject to additions and deletions. EVENT! Sunday February 22, 2009 Preview: 12 Noon Auction: 1 PM Otello' s Banquet Hall 2273 Royal Windsor Dr Oakville, Ontario MOVERS ON-SITE FOR DELIVERIES 10% BUYERS PREM S PREMIUM R001306892 Auction 1-888-211-7690