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29 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,M ay 12,2022 insidehalton.com VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT metrolandparcelservices.ca IS YOUR BUSINESS GROWING? Growing your ecommerce business might seem overwhelming at first. And the last thing you want to worry about is getting your product into the hands of new customers. Metroland Parcel Services can help with timely, reliable shipping at competitive rates. Visit our website to learn more about how MPS can ease your growing pains. SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION It is what it is, until it isn't. Subscribe to a new perspective. Oakville's Acclaim Health is celebrating its volunteers and the impact they have on the commu- nity. The registered charity pointed out that last year their 300 volun- teers made 14,257 visits to isolat- ed people with whom they spent 9,611 hours. The non-profit organization, which supports physical and mental well-being through a vari- ety of programs, warned that so- cial isolation has been at an all- time high for the last two years. Acclaim Health's volunteer program has been trying to com- bat this isolation by providing hours of virtual and in-person companionship to those that need it most. Acclaim Health Friendly Vis- iting Program Volunteer Tom Pettingill talked about his work in the community. "It's a great feeling knowing I am helping (to) support someone. I become important in their lives just like they do in mine," said Pettingill. "As the great Gracie Field said: If I can help someone as I pass along, my living shall not be in vain. It's as simple as that." Pettingill has been a volunteer with Acclaim Health for more than 10 years and, like many of the Acclaim Health volunteers, he says he has made friendships that will last a lifetime. Acclaim staff said the com- panionships created through the volunteer support provide much- needed social connection and joy to the lives of both clients and vol- unteers. "Tom and I hit it off straight away. We just sit and talk, enjoy a piece of chocolate or two," said Jim Belton, a Acclaim Health cli- ent. "It's a lovely feeling when you're feeling lonely, and you have someone come to visit you to help you reminisce on things. We help each other realize that we re- ally aren't on our own." Acclaim staff noted even one visit a week can significantly im- pact someone's life. The problem, they said, is that the need for support is growing faster than the number of people wanting to volunteer. "The value of social connect- edness can't be underestimated. Our volunteers provide compan- ionship, support and bring joy in- to their clients' lives," said Patri- cia Blakeley, Acclaim Health Di- rector of Community Support Services. "And it goes both ways. Volun- teers often comment on how much they learn from and enjoy their visits." Acclaim Health offers a vari- ety of volunteer positions, from visiting with those who need a lit- tle extra company during the day or supporting programming in one of their Adult Day Programs to supporting bereaved individu- als throughout their grief pro- cess. The charity also offers com- prehensive training to ensure all volunteers are well equipped and comfortable in their new role. Volunteers are needed for all positions across the organiza- tion. To see all available volunteer opportunities, visit acclaim- health.ca. Acclaim Health has provided home health care, dementia care, caregiver support, social sup- port, fall prevention, hospice and bereavement support, compan- ionship and palliative care educa- tion in Halton for more than 90 years. ACCLAIM HEALTH CELEBRATES VOLUNTEER ACHIEVEMENTS NEWS Acclaim Health volunteer Tom Pettingill (left) sits with client Jim Belton (right), whom he regularly visits. Acclaim Health photo.