Every year, Bradford Valley Care Community – a long-term care centre operated by Sienna Senior Living – thanks its volunteers for their commitment and contributions.
There are up to 120 volunteers who help out at any one time, said Volunteer Co-ordinator Lisa Lloyd.
Those volunteers play an important role in the care community, connecting with residents through friendly visits, teaching seniors how to navigate computers, gardening, providing spiritual or palliative care, working in the little tuck shop, even bringing in their pet therapy animals to comfort and delight the residents.
But there can only be one Volunteer of the Year, and this year the award went to Brenda Vernon.
Vernon has volunteered every Tuesday at the tuck shop for the past 15 years, "since the doors opened,” said Lloyd in presenting the Volunteer of the Year plaque, and a 15-year Service Certificate.
“After I retired, I decided to come here. It was just opening. There were just a few residents,” said Vernon.
Now the long-term care facility, located at 2656 Line 6 in Bradford, is home to 246 residents.
“You meet great people,” said Vernon.
It’s not the only volunteer activity for the former school teacher. Vernon not only assists Bradford Valley in the tuck shop, but helps out with their surveys, is a member of the Bond Head Lions Club, supports Dialysis Camp Dorset, and, with husband Bill, is a member of both the Georgian Bay Steam Show and Beeton Agricultural Society.
For 15 years, she was also a volunteer with the local Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral agency.
As she received the plaque and certificate for her years at Bradford Valley, Vernon admitted, “It doesn’t seem like it was that long!”
For more information on volunteer opportunities at Bradford Valley, contact [email protected] or 905-952-3356.
“We’re always looking for volunteers,” Lloyd said.
