Join us and thank a volunteer next week
In Vancouver, volunteers contribute thousands of hours each year to improve the lives of patients, residents and clients in our Community of Care. Next week we have a special reason to say, “Thank you!”
April 12 to 18 is National Volunteer Week in Canada, a week when volunteers across this country are recognized, celebrated and thanked for their invaluable contributions.
Every year, over 1,800 volunteers give more than 100,000 hours to support patients, residents and clients in Vancouver acute and residential care facilities and the community. The ages and backgrounds of our volunteers are diverse, but they share a common commitment to care.
Highlights of our volunteers’ contributions this year include:
- 11,000 visits, well-wish offerings or provisions of emergency clothing to VGH patients;
- 50,000 occasions helping patients and family members in the Emergency Department;
- 70,000 way-finding interactions assisting visitors to VGH and UBCH with information;
- 4,000 grocery shopping orders fulfilled for 400 homebound seniors and people with disabilities to ensure access to nutritional food;
- 3,500 hours supporting new moms at risk of depression;
- 7,800 hours at needle exchange clinics where 72,000 needles were given out and 53,000 returned.
To all our volunteers, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks for your generosity and the difference you make every day. And, to all VCH-Vancouver staff and physicians, we invite you to take a moment out of your busy schedule next week to join us and thank a volunteer for his or her time, skills and dedication.
