Trident June 29 2009 - Tridentnews.ca

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TRIDENT, JUNE 29, 2009
A day of work sacrificed for a Day of Caring
By Benjamin J. DeLong
Trident Staff
ne day we’re all going to
“Oget old,” said Patrick Gallant,
DND Commissionaire, as he
stooped to help paint the front deck
of Spencer House, a senior community
centre on Morris Street. Gallant
was one of many DND personnel
given permission to volunteer
their usual workdays to donate their
time and effort to a local agency
in need.
“There has to be more volunteers
in the community who look to help
others,” said Gallant, advocating
strong community spirit and an
awareness of co-dependence. “A
friend may be someone you don’t
even know.” Gallant is also a carpenter.
He said not-for-profit agencies
like Spencer House, no doubt,
find it difficult to budget all the
maintenance work required. He
hopes to be able to donate more
time towards Spencer House in
the future.
Spencer House was one of eight
agencies receiving voluntary maintenance
work through the United
Way’s Day of Caring, June 10, and
DND was one of six workplaces
which contributed employees to help
out around the HRM. Volunteers
from DND helped out at Spencer
House on Morris street, Boys and
Girls Club of Spryfield, and Ward 5
Community Centre on Russell street.
The way Day of Caring works is
employees give up their normal day
of work and go to an arranged location
to help paint, mow or clean, for
example, for a worthy cause. Whatever
particular agencies need done
they report to United Way and then
arrangements for volunteers from
supporting workplaces are finalized.
This volunteer experience
helps organizations realize the
impact of their donations.
“We had to do a few jobs we
weren’t expecting, such as cleaning
the front deck,” said MCpl Joan
Klein, who on any given day may
be doing security clearances at
Trinity, but was at Spencer House
on Day of Caring. “We got here at
8:30 and we’ll be here until the jobs
are done.” Klein and a crew of six
other DND personnel worked at
Spencer House, painting and priming
stairs with equipment provided
by United Way—three others from
Seven DND personnel volunteered their usual day of work for a Day of
Caring (with United Way) by doing much needed maintenance work for
three non-profit agencies in the community.
Trinity, three from 423, and Gallant
from Commissionaires.
“We’re very grateful,” said Deborah
Dostal, Executive Director of
Spencer House. “Day of Caring
used to be just once a year. It’s just
wonderful that organizations would
let employees come out and help.
There are always things that need to
be done.”
Spencer House is owned by the
city, and the city takes care of major
maintenance work, but the board of
directors are responsible for any
minor work needed. For 16 years,
the United Way has funded Spencer
PAULA TEMPELAARS, TRIDENT STAFF
House, after they applied for funding
for their lunch program. Grants
from the United Way keep their fees
as low as possible.
Spencer House caters to the
whole of HRM, with a membership
of about 200 seniors. Seniors are
treated to various activities like trips
to Peggy’s Cove, lessons on computer
use, advice from volunteer
nurses, information from specialists
on senior-related topics, and food
from their lunch programs. Overall,
about 400 seniors are served by their
many programs.
“Most of them don’t get out
much, and very few of them drive.
So it’s really a treat for them to take
a trip. Usually they want to go to
Peggy’s Cove. Without Spencer
House, really the only place for seniors
to go is the mall.” Dostal
thanked all the workers from DND,
and offered her appreciation for the
generous support from United Way.
Day of Caring began in 1998 with
a limited number of projects scheduled
on one day. Now, several days
annually are devoted to the Day of
Caring campaign. For more information
on the United Way, visit
www.UnitedWayHalifax.ca.
Yolande Mason
478-3197
Andy During
497-3540
André Béland
830-8679
Yolande Mason
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