In anticipation of National Volunteer Week (April 27-May 3), the local Salvation Army held a volunteer appreciation dinner Saturday at the former St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.
After several dozen volunteers enjoyed a Chinese food buffet dinner, the evening’s program—featuring Capts. Angel and Marlene Sandoval, as well as Maj. Susan Van Duinen, divisional commander for Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, and her husband, Maj. Dirk Van Duinen—got underway.
“Help is possible only through the help of others,” said Capt. Angel Sandoval, who spoke on the importance of volunteers to the local Salvation Army.
While volunteers help out year-round, they’re especially needed during the “Red Shield Appeal” in May and even moreso during the Christmas kettle and hamper campaigns.
Thanks to volunteers and the community’s generosity, for instance, 193 hampers were given out in December, helping 228 adults, 107 children, and 35 teens at Christmas.
Of course, the Salvation Army continues to help people outside of the holiday season. Throughout 2007, the Sandovals conducted 610 interviews with district residents to help them in one way or another.
This resulted in aiding an estimated 715 adults, 344 children, and 97 teens last year.
They also offered 246 hours of counselling to help others get back on their feet and on the road to self-sufficiency.
“Thank you from the bottom of our heart,” Maj. Susan Van Duinen told the volunteers on hand for Saturday night’s dinner.
She noted Canadians are known for their volunteerism, and that Fort Frances is no exception. “You are making a difference in your community,” remarked Maj. Van Duinen.
She stressed volunteers also “keep [the Salvation Army] hearing about the need in your community,” as well as “connected, relevant, and current.”
Capt. Marlene Sandoval acknowledged businesses and organizations that have helped the local Salvation Army in the last year, including B93•FM, Fort Frances Times, West End Weekly, Fort Frances Kiwanis, Fort Frances Lions, Voyageur Lions, Robert Moore Builders Club, Fort Frances OPP, Royal Canadian Legion Br. 29 and Legion Ladies Auxiliary, and Rainy River Legion.
Rounding out the list were Bethel Baptist Church, Evangelical Covenant Church, Evangelical Fellowship Church, the Muskie boys’ and girls’ hockey teams, Fort Frances Jr. Sabres, TD Canada, Royal Bank of Canada, Gillons’ Insurance, LCBO, Wilson’s Business Solutions, Wal-Mart, The Place, Canada Safeway, and the Salvation Army Thrift Store.
Maj. Dirk Van Duinen and Capt. Marlene Sandoval did the honours of handing out pins to volunteers who helped out with the 2007 Christmas kettle and hamper campaigns.
While these were by no means the only volunteers who helped out during Christmas, the following individuals were especially dedicated:
Pin recipients included Edith Rawlins, Richard Bartlett, Ted Allan, Joyce LaFreniere, and Don MacLean, along with Thrift Store staff Gail Selman, Karen Morrin, and Terri Dubois.
George Bartlett was given a special thanks for his years of dedication to volunteering for the Salvation Army while Angie Fraser was thanked for helping at the Thrift Store on a daily basis.
Diane Maxey was applauded for helping collect toys for the Christmas hampers, with Dave Taylor of Taylor International acknowledged for shipping recycled clothing from here to the Salvation Army’s redistribution centre in Toronto.
Maj. Dirk Van Duinen noted the Sandovals have been doing a great job in Fort Frances, but that they likely will be relocating in 2009.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
