The theme for this year’s National Volunteering Week from May 20-26 was “something for everyone.”

Uniting AgeWell thanked and celebrated 507 volunteers by giving them certificates and small gifts at events held at 27 different sites, reflecting the range of services that benefit from the support of our volunteers.  

Lifestyle Director Sharon Levey says the celebrations for the volunteers at residential sites dove-tailed with the Biggest Morning Tea.

During Volunteer Week, our Social Connections programs across the South-East, North-West and Ballarat regions celebrated the valuable contribution volunteers give to our programs.  Volunteers are an integral part of our social connections team in delivering activities and support to our customers.

Operations Manager Social Connections for the Western and Northern Regions, Leanne Atherton, says morning and afternoon teas were held across all their social connections programs.  “The feedback we received from the volunteers was that they enjoyed the occasion and appreciated the effort as well as the gift bags they received,” Leanne says.  

Operations Manager Social Connections for the South East Jen Duniam says various events were also held across the South-East region.

Lunch and activities were provided on site at our Chadstone Social Connections Group (pictured) where the clients also participated in thanking volunteers; with everyone enjoying a lovely morning tea, music and dancing.

Jen says other volunteers across the South-East region enjoyed getting together for morning tea at a local café while others attended lunch and a show.

“It turned out to be an opportunity for both staff and volunteers to express their thanks,” says Jen.  “The Social Connections Team had the opportunity to celebrate and thank our volunteers, and in turn the volunteers used the occasion to express their appreciation for the support provided by their Volunteer Coordinators, the Volunteer Recruitment Team and Uniting AgeWell as an organisation. ”

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to volunteers who are as diverse as the older people they spend time with.  What unites them is their kindness and desire to help others.  And this includes many staff who volunteer in all sorts of ways.

There are those of you who volunteer your pets as therapy animals, regularly bringing them to work to let them weave their tail-wagging and purring magic with residents.   Thank you.  Your kindness is appreciated.

Then there are those of you who continue to spread the word in the community about Uniting AgeWell’s need for volunteers, and by your actions have helped swell our volunteer numbers.  This is also deeply appreciated.

Never has there been a greater need for volunteers than now, as we try to rectify the widespread effects being felt by social isolation.

To read more about our volunteers, visit www.unitingagewell.org/get-involved/volunteering  

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