It乌鸦传媒檚 Volunteer Appreciation Week as non-profits all over the province are celebrating the people who support them day in and day out.
Some organizations have sent letters of appreciation to their volunteers, while others are highlighting them with surprises throughout the week.
Volunteer work is essential in helping many non-profits keep their doors open.
Despite the challenge of providing services throughout the pandemic, Lenetta Parry, with the West Kelowna Salvation Army, said the volunteers continued working hard.
乌鸦传媒淭he work we do couldn乌鸦传媒檛 happen without our volunteers and we really want to celebrate (them),乌鸦传媒� she said.
乌鸦传媒淭here are a number of volunteers we have lost because they just don乌鸦传媒檛 feel safe right now and that乌鸦传媒檚 understandable.
乌鸦传媒淏ut the volunteers we do have are working extra hard to make sure we continue to meet the needs out in the community.乌鸦传媒�
According to Statistics Canada, almost 12.7 million people volunteered at charities, non-profits and community organizations just in 2018 alone, about 41 per cent of Canadians aged 15 and up.
West Kelowna Salvation Army treated its volunteers to Spud Stix on Monday afternoon, where they were able to eat together in groups of four to keep bubbles small while still giving them the time to socialize with each other.
Cindy Brewster and Lisa-Marie Pettovello co-own Take Two Interiors. They said what motivated them to volunteer at the Salvation Army乌鸦传媒檚 thrift store is being around selfless people.
乌鸦传媒淲e get to meet the most wonderful people that donate their time and help other people,乌鸦传媒� Pettovello said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 about making a difference and just doing really good things for families in the community.乌鸦传媒�
Brewster said for her, it乌鸦传媒檚 about giving without the thought of compensation.
乌鸦传媒淔or me, it乌鸦传媒檚 about just giving selflessly乌鸦传媒ust giving (and doing) what I do best, just doing displays and being creative,乌鸦传媒� she said.
For others like Terry Remin, volunteering during the pandemic has given her a chance to be around other people safely while doing something meaningful, especially as she recovers from a concussion.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 volunteering to find out and to test myself just what types of things I can do and what hours I can sustain,乌鸦传媒� she said.
乌鸦传媒淭his is a good and fun place and they really do good works.
乌鸦传媒淚f you have time in your hands and further the good work in our community, look into volunteering.乌鸦传媒�
READ: Federal Budget 2021: Liberals extend COVID-19 aid with election top of mind
twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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