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On Thursday, August 25, 2022, Town Council and staff honoured community volunteers at the Town of Qualicum Beach Volunteer Appreciation Reception held at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre.
This year, the winner of the Above and Beyond Volunteer Award was the St. Stephens’ Community Meal Program, chosen by Council for its outstanding dedication to those in need throughout the Oceanside area.
Every week, come rain or shine, those needing a free meal and a kind word find the doors of St. Stephens Church open. The meals are freshly prepared with quality local ingredients that provide not only nutrition but companionship - the program’s motto being, ’Come for a meal, stay for the friendship’.
The program has been running for over 15 years, and even through COVID provided a takeaway lunch service. Now back to their normal Thursday lunch program, they serve between 30 and 50 people each week in-person, as well as providing an additional 70 bagged lunches that social workers take to those in isolated rural areas.
They are also pleased to be restarting their monthly hot evening meal which, pre-COVID, saw upwards of 200 people attending, many of whom were seniors in need of socialization and simple human contact.
In addition to providing meals, the program offers vital opportunities for social workers to provide in-person services and specialist support that is otherwise hard to organize. The program also supports the KSS school lunch program both financially, and with volunteer services.
The afternoon closed with a sincere thank you from Council on behalf of the whole community, saying “The Volunteer Appreciation Reception is our opportunity to express our appreciation for the many volunteers who dedicate hours, days, months and even years to bettering the community in Qualicum Beach.” Guests were also encouraged in this Year of the Garden to “Continue to grow our community together. Alone we can do so little: together we can do so much.”
The volunteer groups and committee members honoured this year are listed on the 2022 Volunteer Appreciation Recipients Award displayed in the Town Hall foyer, along with the Above and Beyond Volunteer Award plaque.
Contact
Heather Svensen
Corporate Administrator
Town of Qualicum Beach
250.752.6921
[email protected]
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