Frost Manor treats volunteers to fun-filled afternoon to say thanks
Area homes join to celebrate volunteers
Thursday May 1, 2008 -- Deron Hamel
LINDSAY, Ont. - Volunteers at Frost Manor were provided with an afternoon of entertainment at a luncheon held to honour their hard work, kindness and dedication to residents.

Several volunteers from the home were amongst the 130 guests at the April 29 event, which was held at the Moose Lodge in Lindsay. The gala, called Volunteers: The Heart of the Community, was held to celebrate the work of volunteers from Frost Manor and four other Lindsay-area long-term care homes.

The two-hour event featured a lunch of sandwiches and sweets, along with entertainment provided by Toronto-based juggler and magician Dan Cole. The event is one of many being held throughout Canada as part of National Volunteer Week, April 27 to May 3.

Vi O’Leary, the home’s life enrichment co-ordinator, says because long-term care homes are busy environments it can be challenging to show volunteers how much they are appreciated.

An event like this, she says, is important because it shows the home is grateful to volunteers for their efforts.

“It shows your appreciation for the difference these people make in the residents’ lives,” says O’Leary. “They are like gold to us. . . . There are lots of things we couldn’t do if we didn’t have volunteers.”

So, what would Frost Manor be like without volunteers?

“We would be lost,” says O’Leary. “They do so much. We have volunteers for outings, for special events, one-on-one (programming) — it’s amazing what they do.”

Linda McGriskin, a volunteer at Frost Manor, says she loves the work she does and encourages others to seek out volunteering opportunities in long-term care. McGriskin adds that she enjoyed the event and that she’s appreciative that Frost Manor put forth the effort to give thanks to her and other volunteers from the home.

“You have no idea the feeling . . . it makes all the difference in the world,” she says.

Do you have a story you would like to share about activities your home is doing for National Volunteer Week? If so, please contact deron(at)axiomnews.ca.

If you’re interested in a volunteering opportunity at any of OMNI’s long-term care homes, please call (705) 748-6631.

If you have feedback on this story, please call the newsroom at (800) 294-0051 or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.