It was an unforgettable night for Barb George, a longtime Bethany volunteer, when her name was called as the the Volunteer of the Year at the ACCA conference. Barb has volunteered at Bethany Calgary for 45 years, so we sat down with her to chat more about her passion for helping our residents. Thank you Barb for being a dedicated and caring volunteer with Bethany; we hope to have you volunteering with us for many years to come!
When did you first start volunteering at Bethany?
I started volunteering at Bethany Calgary in the early 1970’s when I brought my mother here as a resident.
Why did you decide to volunteer at Bethany?
I started volunteering in the craft room so that my mom would get involved in crafts. In 1975, I started working at Bethany and was an employee for 16 years. During this time, I was president of the staff association and helped plan a Christmas dinner for 65-70 seniors in the community without any family.
What types of volunteering do you do now?
I volunteer throughout the building and am here four days a week. I do the surveys for Aramark and Bethany and go wherever they need somebody to help out. I oversee the tuck shop and do purchasing for it and my husband volunteers in the tuck shop too.
What’s your favourite part of volunteering?
I really enjoy the residents and they make me want to come back every day. They have wonderful stories and interesting lives. Every resident is different and if I make one resident smile per day then I feel like I’ve done my job.
How did it feel to receive the ACCA Volunteer of the Year award?
It was awesome! I’ve been nominated a lot over the years and it was very special to me to receive this award. I want to keep this up as long as I can. Coming to Bethany every day keeps me going and keeps me on my toes.
What else do you like to do in your spare time?
I crochet, enjoy crafts and sewing. I make blankets and donate them to Hillside Manor. It keeps me going and keeps me busy. I like to exercise and I get a lot of exercise volunteering here. Something is always going on here and I really miss it if I don’t come here for a few days. They tell you to volunteer as a senior and get involved, and it’s very rewarding to volunteer with seniors.
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