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Volunteers make community a better place
The recipients of this year’s Greenwood Neighbourhood Place outstanding volunteer awards are great examples of what individuals can do for the community at large, including for Sundre young people.
The awards were presented during a ceremony at the Sundre community centre earlier this month, with town councillors presenting the awards and reading prepared statements about the following very worthy volunteers.
• Betty Hurt - A longtime volunteer with the Nutrition for Learning program at Sundre schools, Hurt dedicates her time at least two or three times a month. “This terrific individual has volunteered much of her time for the last eight years for the benefit of our Sundre youth,” said Coun. Michael Baird. “Even though none of her children or grandchildren attend River Valley School, she truly enjoys providing nutritious snacks for the youngsters.”
• Bill Lough - A tireless worker with Sundre youth for many years, Lough has recently been instrumental in bringing a skate park to town. “This individual has shown exceptional leadership and mentoring, working to build leadership in the youth of Sundre,” said Coun. Myron Thompson. “This individual has modelled effective citizenship and helped create a positive, empowered next generation for Sundre, giving them a strong sense of ownership. He is a much loved and respected person in the school by staff and youth.”
• Dorothy Thengs - A volunteer who has been involved with Sundre’s youngest youngsters, Thengs is on the board of the Sundre Daycare and involved with bringing programs to the kids. “Her dedication to the young children of Sundre is something that we could all learn from,” said Coun. Chris Vardas, “and she does this for no other reason but her belief that the young children of this wonderful town deserve the best and she is sure these programs do that.”
• Gale Henderson - A volunteer who has been involved with Sundre students and the community at large as a teacher, town councillor and volunteer for years, Henderson is also an advocate of addressing Sundre’s social needs, including helping form the Nutrition for Learning program. “This amazing gal does all this on top of being a full-time Grade 4 teacher, in which she has always encouraged her students to volunteer by helping during the Santa’s Anonymous program at Christmastime,” said Coun. Pat Toone.
• Jody Layden - A volunteer involved with youngsters at her dayhome for kids from infants and up, and with local sports such as hockey and figure skating, Layden “has shown deep compassion for the children and families that she cares for as she holds them in top priority next to her own family, over and above her own needs or desires yet still able to hold reasonable boundaries for the children in her care,” said Coun. Pat Toone.
• Michele Waters - A volunteer with the River Valley School Council, Waters has been involved with fundraising at the school for years. Among her activities have been helping bring a climbing wall to the school as well as drama presentations. “This caring lady’s focus for the greater good for the youth of Sundre is visible in all the hard work that she puts forth,” said Coun. Chris Vardas.
• Sandra Smith and Debbie French - These volunteer ladies have been instrumental in the operation of numerous community organizations over the years, including helping found the senior cooked meal program. “We are very proud to have these ladies reside in our community and we want to thank them for a lifetime of giving to the Sundre and district community,” said Coun. Thompson.
• Nutrition for Learning volunteers - This year’s awards saw an outstanding volunteer award go collectively to the many volunteers involved in the school milk and snack program. “This amazing group of hard-working volunteers, we applaud you all for your dedicated service to our community youth,” said Coun. Baird. “This organization would not exist if they didn’t have the 60 valuable volunteers that make it what it is today.”
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