With 2001 being the International Year of Volunteers, the executive director of the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau is hoping to see more people from the community giving a little of their time to a good cause this year.
“This is about the ninth or 10th year I have been doing this and I have never been disappointed with the number of people who come out to help,” said Joan Pearson.
“The community has always been so generous but we can always use more people to help us out with specific programs that we offer through our agency,” she added.
Positions available through the bureau are varied and often do not require a lot of time on the part of the volunteer.
“All we are asking for is one volunteer hour per week,” Pearson noted. “Right now, we could really use people in our ‘Friendly Visitors’ program.
“We often find it hard to fill positions for the developmentally-challenged so I am always looking for people to help us out there,” she said.
Pearson also is looking for people to assist in the “Pet Visiting” program that is offered to people at Rainycrest Home for the Aged and La Verendrye hospital.
“Basically I am looking for people with docile cats or dogs to go to these places and visit with the patients or residents there,” said Pearson.
“We have already had a request for this service. It is one of our most popular.”
Always looking for volunteers, Pearson makes it clear each applicant must be screened before they are allowed to offer their time.
“We are very careful placing people, especially in the one-on-one programs,” she explained. “We require that each applicant must have a criminal check done and they must also provide us with two references.”
Though admitting the average age of most people who volunteer their time is over 40, Pearson is optimistic she’ll attract a few younger volunteers willing to give a little of their time to someone in need this year.
“Seniors tend to have a bit more time on their hands so they like to come and help out in the community,” Pearson remarked. “Let’s face it, people in their 20s and 30s are working and don’t have that much time to spare.
“However, we could always use them on the weekends for an hour or so.”
Overall, Pearson has been quite pleased with the outpouring of support that has come from the community throughout the years.
“We are extremely [lucky] to be a part of such a caring community,” she enthused. “The Volunteer Bureau has fantastic volunteers who are very generous with their time. We have been very fortunate.”
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
