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CMHA Kootenays celebrates volunteers at East Side Mario’s
By Erin Knutson (with notes from Lori Bender and Charlene Turner)
The CMHA Kootenays Branch celebrated Volunteer Appreciation Week by hosting a special luncheon for its volunteers at East Side Mario’s in Cranbrook April 28.
Investors Group Wealth Management Division Manager Mike Paugh sponsored the event, which treated volunteers to lunch to honour their service to the community.
“Volunteers selflessly give their most precious resource – their time – to help those in need without any expectations or recognition, and for this, CMHA Kootenays is extremely grateful,” said Executive Director Lori Bender.
Bender gave a speech at the event praising the volunteers for their time and effort. Today is about you she emphasized to those in attendance.
“Your dedication is appreciated, and we are forever grateful to each of you. Whether you are a long-time volunteer or someone fairly new, regardless of the number of hours you give, you matter and are recognized, valued and appreciated. Thank you; your efforts are appreciated beyond words,” she said as she called upon Board President Kirk Green for a blessing before the meal.
According to Bender, programs like the Senior Friendly Visitor Program, the Check-In-Call service for isolated seniors, the Volunteer Assisted Shopping Program, the Interior crisis line, and the 9-8-8 crisis line, along with the governance of a volunteer board of directors, are essential to the daily operations of these services.
“Volunteers gave 2453 hours in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Volunteers matter, and volunteers make a difference. We appreciate our volunteers beyond words”, she said emphatically of this group of anonymous individuals.
As the organization’s lifeblood, CMHA Kootenays is always seeking new volunteers for the above-listed programs and other community organizations. Extensive training and skill development are applicable in all of their programs.
CMHA Kootenays is currently recruiting volunteers with legal/lawyer, accounting/finance, and/or human service education or experience to join its governance Board of Directors. If you or someone you know is interested, please get in touch with Char at 250-426-8019 or [email protected].
Char will provide an overview of the programs offered by CMHA Kootenays and the other community organizations seeking volunteers to ensure an excellent match for each individual.
“A good volunteer is like a pearl. Rare, precious and hard to find,” said Volunteer Coordinator Charlene Turner.
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