Top Ardoise volunteers serve 20 hours a month

By Christy Marsters

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

Ardoise’s selected Volunteers of the Year contributed countless hours to community.

Mary Smith received the Volunteer Award and Spencer Wright was presented with a Youth Volunteer Award at the Ardoise Community Recreation Centre on the evening of Jan. 28. The Ardoise Community Recreation Centre 12 member Board of Directors made the decision, to acknowledge these volunteers, based on their time committed; enthusiasm offered and a sheer willingness to help.

Susan Wright, who is a volunteer coordinator for the Ardoise Community Recreation Centre, said both of these volunteers do a lot of work for the local hall. “They’ve each done an outstanding job and it’s been really fun to work with them.”

Smith runs the bingos, gets supplies and groceries when needed, helps during penny auctions and does up all the donation letters, Susan Wright said. “I would say that 20 hours minimum is what they [both Mary and Spencer] are putting in for one month.”

Spencer Wright does everything from helping with the bingos, acting as DJ for all the pre-teen dances, assisting at the canteens and working during penny auctions, Susan

Wright noted. “What’s important is for youth to realize, although they’re young, they can contribute.”

Anyone who would like to volunteer any amount of time for the Ardoise Community Recreation Centre can email ArdoiseHall@gmail.com.

Community isn’t just where the building is but it’s about the people who surround it, Susan Wright added. “However, the Ardoise Community Recreation Centre is a place that people can go where they don’t have to travel to Windsor. Still, if it was not for a bunch of volunteers there would not be any halls or community events.”

So, recognizing those who volunteer throughout the Municipality is really something every hall should consider, Susan Wright further added.

On Jan.17 the Ardoise Community Recreation Centre held its annual general meeting of the community with a dinner to honour all local volunteers and family supporters.

Mary Smith noted she was surprised to win an award for volunteering. “For me, this [volunteering] is just a way to get out and away from work.”

Volunteering is a nice way for people to meet other people in a rural area and it does not matter how much time is given, Smith said. “Be it at a hall or a hospital; there are people who need volunteers.”

Smith noted a special bingo event, which had raised $500 for the new Brooklyn Civic Centre, as a highlighting moment in her time volunteering. “They were trying to help the community so it was nice to help them,” Smith said. “It was one organization that was helping another and I think we need more of that.”

Spencer Wright, 12, said he remembered working in the kitchen, during a fundraiser for someone in the community who had breast cancer, most. “It stands out because I knew it was a good thing to do,” Wright noted. “Why wouldn’t you help out someone in need really?”