North Shore Community Services

provides a connection for volunteers

By Layne Christensen
Community Reporter

‘OLUNTEERING can

be a valuable way for

people to connect with
their community.

For volunteers who live in North
and West Vancouver, that connection
is often pr vvided by North Shore
Cony stuiity Services (NSCS).

NSCS is a United Way member
agency established in 1976 as a r
ral and information service that links
volunteers with agencies in need of
support.

Last year, NSCS received inquiries
‘ram more than 900 individuals
interested in volunteering. An esti-
mated 140 organizttions contacted
NSCS in search of volunteers:

Volunteer opportunities range
from short-term to ongoing and
cover every activity from office work
to recreation.

NSCS held a reception Tuesday
to honor seven North Shore resi
dents, who fit the profile of the rypi-
cal volunteer.

The commitment and care th
show as dedicated volunteers is any-
thing but typical.

For Norma Doig, 44, volunteer-
ing runs in the family. Her mother
was involved with the hospital auxil-
iary. Doig has canvassed for the
Canadian Cancer Society and North

vere i

“ - ‘, “norma ddige*

VOLUNTEER
WEEK

Shore Association for the Mentally
Handicapped. For the past year and a
half, Doig, who has no i
her own, has been Big Sister to a 10-
year-old. Working full time as a med-
ical oftice assistant for three pediatri-
cians doesn’t stand in the way of any
fun these two have together. |
have sleepovers, take walks, do crafts.
Volunteering one-on-one, “helping
someone to form some hopes and
dreams” is her reward, says Doi
Leonora and Del Dunse volun
teer in the library of their grandchil-
dren’s school, Highlands Elementary.
For Leonora, who retired in "84
from a 25-year career in teaching, it’s

~ fouise kirby -

a way to remain close to children.
Del joined his wife as a volunteer
three years later, when he retired as
sawyer ata tumber mill. The

th Van couple were also instru-
mental in setting up North
Vancouver School Distriet.44°s
recent Educanion Week display at
Capilano Mall. Volunteering is see-
ond nature, says Del. “We've always
been taught to give back something
(to the community).”

Louise Kirby keeps busy volun-
tecring for North Shore Home
Support Diners’ Club, the Salvation
Army and Lions Gate Hospital. The
Kiwanis Towers resident is also a
member of the Over-60 Club.

Brian O'Neill juggles two part-
time jobs and full-time studies in
education at SFU with single parent-
ing two teenagers. Still, he finds time
for community se served
on Lynnmour Elementary’s Parent
Advisory Committee and currently
sits on the executive of the
Lynnmour Inter-River Community
Association, He’s also Block Watch
captain for his North Van housing
complex, How does he do it? “Ir’s
not reaily a big deal,” he says. “I just
got tired of sitting around and saying
‘why doesn’t somebady do some-
thing? ” His frank advice for would-
be activists: “Stop whining abou!
things and do it yourselt!”

Elinor McLean stepped up her
volunteer involvement with North
Shore Counselling Centre (NSCC)
when she retired from a career in

Friday, Aprit 18, 1997 ~ North Shore News — 9

unieers 1

del & leonora dunse’

data processing nwo years ago, She's
volunteered with NSCC since °71 in
a variety of capacities. Over the past
four months she’s devoted hundreds
of hours, using her computer exper-
tise to develop a software system for
the counselling centre’s administra-
tion.

Farangis Yazdani has been a vol-
unteer board member with the
North Shore Muiticultural Sociery
for three years. This year, she’s tea-
surer, which gives her a chance to
pat her skills as an accountant to
good use. Being able to help new-
comers to adjust to a new culture
and new country is what she enjoys

»

7

.. elinor melean,:

best about her volunteer position.
“Working together makes the com-
munity,” she says.
For more information about
NSCS, call 985-7138.
— layne@nsnews.com

Continues. vo

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