Volunteering

My mom used to say "volunteering is the best thing you can do for your community". I have  volunteered for the Richmond Thunderbirds and the RCMP.  I've been a Brownie and Sparks leader and I completed a volunteering course at the White Rock Hospice Society in the late spring.  Working for hospice isn't something I am ready to do but I know the day will come when I have the time and compassion to sit with people who are very sick.  The White Rock Hospice Society has a goal that no one ever dies alone.  Those volunteers are special and I wish I could do it but right now I'm not able to.

Three years ago Canada Post was looking for a coordinator to work out of the large postal depot in Cloverdale.  I'd volunteered before at the Surrey postal depot and live in Cloverdale.  I'm the only coordinator in the lower mainland that never worked for Canada Post.  I'm been a member of the Heritage Club for retirees of Canada Post because my husband worked for Canada Post for 36 years. 

BC postal stations reply to letters from the Pacific region including Asia, Australia and all points in between.  Letters from Europe and Africa are answered by colleagues in the east.  The volunteers are awesome and most have worked for Canada Post.  Some still work for Canada Post and come in early or take them home!  Last year the lower mainland answered 60,000 letters. 1.6 million letters were answered by volunteers in 30 different languages including braille across Canada.  Our volunteers in Cloverdale can answer in French but anything else is sent to the Vancouver Processing plant and is answered by someone who can answer in the language the letter is written. 

If you have spare time think about volunteering.  It's very rewarding.  If you live in Cloverdale, call me!