FCSS recognizes regional volunteers

Advance Photo Submitted. HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY: Individual winner Rita Berte.

By Garrett Simmons
Family and Community Support Services

Volunteers really are the heart of any community.

Ask anyone involved with operating a local organization, and they’ll tell you they simply could not exist without volunteers.

Family and Community Support Services knows this as well, as many of its programs rely heavily on community support.

“I would say the ones that stand out for me are the Meals on Wheels programs that we have in our service region,” said Becky Fitton, Community Services manager for FCSS. “We have lots of volunteers, who without them, it wouldn’t be a program at all.”

The FCSS Snow Angels initiative and youth DO Crew groups also rely heavily on helping hands.

“Volunteers are such a huge part, I would say, that keep things going,” said Fitton.

Last week, FCSS marked National Volunteer week through the Cheers to Volunteers initiative by recognizing My City Care Taber as this year’s group winner, Rita Berte as the individual winner and Ernie Peters and Nancy Reimer as the youth winners.

My City Care celebrated with a pizza party, Berte with coffee and donuts at the Coalhurst Senior Centre and the youth winners with lunch and cake at Chamberlain School. Each winner had the opportunity to customize a celebration, tailored just for them, and certainly appreciated the opportunity to be recognized.

“I have always had a yearning to be involved and help others in any capacity, to not only ease the workload but to engage with other community members and get to know them,” said Peters. “Experiences that have been the most impactful to me from volunteering have been the positive attitudes demonstrated by the volunteers beside me along with the cherishable memories created.”

The duo volunteered each lunch hour to make nutritional meals for members of the school.

“I saw that there was help needed and helped out where I could,” said Reimer, who added it was important for her to make sure kids were fed if they forgot lunches or didn’t have snacks available.

For Berte, helping others just comes naturally.

“Volunteering has always been ingrained in my persona,” she said. “I like the involvement and fulfilling the need to help. It is nice to meet new people and learn about their interests as well.”

She added the contributions people make in their communities are vital.

“Communities cannot grow without volunteers,” said Berte. “Program development requires volunteers so that communities can become vibrant and fulfill the needs of their residents. I see Coalhurst as being one of those vibrant communities.”

And while this year’s three winners are certainly deserving of accolades, Fitton added every volunteer nominated this year has made a significant impact.

“We presented all of the nominees who didn’t get the award with a certificate of appreciation,” she said. “I feel like it was even nice to be able to say to them, ‘it’s amazing what you’re doing and we appreciate you.’ I hope that helps keep them going and know that what they do is appreciated in their communities.”

For the three winners that received celebratory events, Fitton is hopeful those National Volunteer Week events will set a positive example.

“Everybody’s stretched thin and busy and has their own challenges, but we hope this helps inspire others to give back in the small ways that they can and know that it’s really impactful.”

For those wondering how they can give back in their respective communities, through volunteer opportunities with FCSS, contact Cindy at 403-915-7063.