I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful volunteers that put in countless hours working to make this community a better, friendlier and more beautiful place to live.
From the members of the Oliver Heirloom Garden Club, to the community-minded members of all of our service groups such as Rotary Club of Oliver, the Oliver Kiwanis Club, Literacy Now South Okanagan Similkameen, to all the volunteers at South Okanagan General Hospital and the South Okanagan Health Care Auxiliary (just to name a few): These people truly make a difference in the daily lives of so many of the residents and visitors in Oliver and the surrounding area.
These groups of people with what seems to be endless amounts of energy, drive and passion take on beatification projects, fundraising projects, or provide companionship for people looking for a friendly face and some comfortable conversation.
We have the Meals on Wheels program which provides delivery of hot meals prepared at South Okanagan General Hospital. We have the Youth Volunteer or Candy Striper Program that places young South Okanagan residents in our hospital and residential care facilities. We have our Youth Ambassadors who can be seen throughout the community. We have so many good people donating time and money, it is truly amazing and I am very thankful to be involved with such a warm community.
Take a moment the next time you see a volunteer in this (or any other) community and say hello to them, maybe even say thanks, because without their generosity, many of the programs I mentioned and similar ones throughout the Okanagan simply would not exist. Volunteers do make a difference, one life at a time.
Kevin Andrews, co-ordinator,
Volunteer Services
South Okanagan General Hospital