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Nanaimo’s many volunteers praised at annual appreciation luncheon

Apr 20, 2018 | 4:38 PM

NANAIMO — A community would be nothing without its volunteers.

That was the message behind the 23rd annual Volunteer Nanaimo luncheon on Thursday at the Beban Park Social Centre. The event, attended by more than 300 people coincided with National Volunteer Week.

Volunteer Nanaimo executive director Marjorie Driscoll said people who selflessly give their time to the more than 500 local non-profit groups have a profound impact.

“If volunteers decided to strike and not come and do their jobs it would cripple the city, that just puts it into perspective on how important they are.”

Driscoll said the growing number of non-profits in Nanaimo has created challenges, since the groups compete for often shrinking funding from numerous sources.

She told NanaimoNewsNOW a trend over the last several years of active retired volunteers traveling more often has organizations scrambling to fill service gaps.

Driscoll said the volunteer culture in Nanaimo remains strong, despite those barriers.

She pointed out a primary mandate of Volunteer Nanaimo is linking prospective volunteers with the organization that meets the needs of both parties.

“To ensure that people have life-long learning, we find through life-long learning when you volunteer that’s an opportunity to learn all the time and also transfer your knowledge.”

Driscoll said it’s critical for non-profit groups to make sure work done by their volunteers is meaningful and they’re appreciated.

Mayor Bill McKay, who attended the luncheon, said a community is always at its best when people are helping one another.

“A city is a collection of buildings, sidewalks, streets and infrastructure. It doesn’t become a community until you add the people and you add the human element to it,” McKay said. “It’s people helping people that makes our community as great as it is.”

More information on opportunities to get involved in Nanaimo can be found at Volunteer Nanaimo’s website.

 

Ian@NananimoNewsNow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes