National Volunteer Week in Canada was April 19-25, 2020 with the theme: “It’s time to applaud this country’s volunteers!” – we think our volunteer team deserves a standing ovation!
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Although we were not able to celebrate our volunteers in person as we normally do every National Volunteer Week at our Family Respite Centre (the event was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns), we still extend our thanks to our amazing volunteers. Without help from our volunteer team, we couldn’t reach as many homebound seniors as we do across Vancouver and Richmond through our Meals on Wheels programs. And our clients at the Family Respite Centre (under normal circumstances) would miss the help, camaraderie and support our volunteers provide. |
The Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, was planning to attend our event. Instead, Her Honour has kindly recorded a brief video to recognize the contributions of Care BC's volunteers.
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2020 is also a special year because two extremely dedicated volunteers – Chris Croner and Jeanne Lewis – are celebrating milestone anniversaries volunteering with Meals on Wheels; they have both delivered meals for an amazing 50 years each! Although Chris and Jeanne both have very busy schedules - taking care of their own families and juggling other volunteer responsibilities - they have made volunteering with Meals on Wheels a part of their lives since 1970. On behalf of Care BC, and the many clients Chris (in the Downtown Eastside) and Jeanne (in Richmond) have helped, we express our gratitude!
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Chris Croner with Inge Schamborzki, Care BC Executive Director (Oct. 2020).
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2020 has become an exceptional year for another reason – the COVID-19 outbreak. Although this virus has caused pain and suffering around the world, we are extremely pleased by all the offers of support we have received from new volunteers. Many of our volunteers are retired themselves (and may be in a higher risk category for COVID-19); some decided to take a break from volunteering to protect their own health and avoid the possibility of transmitting the virus. We also thank our volunteers who have stayed home recently for doing their part to “flatten the curve”.
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During the COVID-19 crisis, we have received help from Telus - their technicians (or technicians-in-training) who cannot work during the pandemic have volunteered to deliver meals. LEFT: Michael Aceituno (l) and Nick Nguyen (r), RIGHT: (l-r) Kofi Amegashitsi, Abdi Hassan and Naeim Asady.
Left to right: photos 1 & 2 - Jay Yip delivers meals on her bicycle along with floral arrangements donated by the Garden Club of Vancouver (2019); photo 3 - Magdalene Lo just before leaving on her Chinese MOW delivery route (2017); photo 4 - Pat Harrold (left) and Martin Chester (right) with Vicki Ma, Volunteer Program Manager at the MAVA kitchens in Richmond (2017); photo 5 - Ray Luk, Janet Chan, and Benny Cheng delivering Chinese Meals on Wheels (2017).
Please see below a list of all our Care BC volunteers receiving anniversary pins this year for their service. Care BC Staff members celebrating anniversaries are also listed. We look forward to celebrating your volunteer service in person (when our postponed event is rescheduled).
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
Western Meals on Wheels Volunteers |
Chinese Meals on Wheels Volunteers |
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50 Year Anniversaries:
Chris Croner Jeanne Lewis 20 Year Anniversary: Karim Amersi 15 Year Anniversaries: Betty McGowan Main St Drop-in 10 Year Anniversaries: Kathy Davie Kevin MacPherson Francis Mansbridge Randy Scharf Mary Sharp 5 Year Anniversaries: Arlington Program Claudia Lansdorp Michael Luu Mary Mah Roger Seamon Greg Smolyn Llewelyn van der Linde Jay Yip Oringa Yip |
20 Year Anniversaries:
Babe Bailey Franklin Fung Maggie Ng 15 Year Anniversaries: Bernadette Fung Polly Tam Connie Wong 10 Year Anniversaries: Bernard Cheng Celine Cheng Christina Cheung Bunjee Choi Helen Lam Melissa Lau Rosita Leung Dennis Luk 5 Year Anniversaries:
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Family Respite Centre Volunteers15 Year Anniversary:
Dawn Church 5 Year Anniversary: Elizer Erpilla |
Care BC Staff Members20 Year Anniversary:
Henrietta Lampon (Family Respite Centre) 15 Year Anniversary: Sue Nguyen (Family Respite Centre) 5 Year Anniversaries: Chris Turner (Granville Office) Kevin Yip (Granville Office) |