VON Week is May 18-24, 2014 across Canada. The VON has many outstanding programs; our local branch for Wellington County is no exception.
“We have over 250 volunteers who support transportation, volunteer visiting, telephone reassurance, meals on wheels, gentle exercise and adult day out programs. Our volunteers supported over 1,500 individuals,” said volunteer coordinator Colleen Lucas
VON’s community support services are often lifelines for people wanting to remain independent in their own homes. It’s estimated 23 per cent of seniors do not have a family member or friend they can count on. Volunteers perform many different tasks, telephoning isolated individuals once a day to check in, delivering and serving hot, nutritious meals, supporting seniors with one-on- one exercise programs, providing companionship in home and last but not least transportation to medical appointments.
The VON transportation team was a nominee in the TEAM category for the 11th Annual Service Awards for Geriatric Excellence, known as the SAGE awards. The criteria for this award include highly effective team, network, working group, committee or collaborative partnership. Demonstrates a far-reaching impact on seniors, services and /or care. Demonstrates leadership, innovation and dedication to enhanced capacity, coordination and collaboration in the provision of services to seniors and utilizes best practices. This year’s event was held on, April 25 in Burlington. Awards were presented to leaders, volunteers, organizations and individuals. VON was not the award recipient in the team category, nevertheless having a nomination for such a prestige award is a testament to the work done by volunteers.
“It is through the dedicated work of our volunteers that VON is able to provide such tremendous services in our communities” said Colleen Lucas. “Our volunteers are the backbone of this organization and without their commitment these services and programs could not exist” VON is in need of volunteers in your community.
Some of these services depend on charitable funding raised through generous donations from members of the community. To help support VON’s charitable programs or information on how to access programs offered by the VON serving Wellington County, contact the Mount Forest office at 519-323-2330 or toll free 1-888-506-6353. Email to colleen.lucas@von.ca
