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Fall 2014

Comm Partners new logo  Volunteer Voices

An online newsletter for
Jeffery Hale 
Community of Care 
Volunteers
Welcome

Welcome to Volunteer Voices. This online newsletter is for those special people who give their time to help make our community a better place. Volunteers play a vital role in providing our services. We want to keep you up to date on what's new in our Jeffery Hale Community of Care and highlight how our volunteers make it happen.  

      
 
As summer comes to a close and a beautiful autumn whispers in with cool mornings and sweater-worthy evenings, volunteers are getting back into the rhythm of our programs. From Baby Puree Workshops to Chit Chat Club, Community Events to all new Day Center opportunities, get your calendars out because we have an exciting season ahead! 

A few reasons why volunteering with the Jeffery Hale Community Partners' Community of Care is a rewarding experience with real quotes from our volunteers!

New to the region or looking to explore the English-speaking community? Volunteering can help you establish a social network and make new friends.

''I enjoy the activities you do for the seniors. ... Honestly I feel at home, as if I gained a new family".  
 

Are you a student looking to earn valuable community involvement credits? Some volunteer opportunities are tailor-made for just that! 

 

"I enjoy being useful". "I enjoy the positive environment".  
"I really enjoyed sorting and packing hampers , also that my son and husband were there and we were doing it together. I want my son to learn more about the importance of helping others".

 

Looking for work? Volunteering can help steer you towards a new career and/or provide a valuable job reference. 


"Professionals are all very friendly and positive people!".
"[I feel] a real sense of community work. [...] Really appreciate the staff and support".
   

Retired and looking for a hobby? Volunteering may open doors to new interests and new friendships. 

 
" [...] I have learned so much and met so many great people who have encouraged and helped me"

 

What heart-warming words! Sometimes making a difference for others makes an enormous difference to yourself as well.

Amy Bilodeau, Volunteer Coordinator     

418 684-5333 Ext. 1550  

Quick Links  
Highlights from the Day Center Finale Show
New opportunities for DC volunteering!


The Day Center is back in full swing this fall after an upbeat summer performance of Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue starring DC staff last July.   


Welcome to our new and joyful additions and a warm welcome back to our hardworking DC volunteers!    

          

The Day Center team is working hard this year to fulfill their goals in the physical exercises program and would like to add a new volunteer opportunity to anyone interested that involves assisting the seniors in their morning activities under the supervision and tutelage of the DC team. This opportunity is a regular commitment of Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 12 every week. If you are retired or looking to gain experience in this field to kick off your career, this could be an excellent fit for you! You will receive special training.

We are also bringing back the living room volunteer opportunity which involves supervising and leading small, adapted activities with 1-2 clients affected by dementia or with limited abilities. This very special volunteer must be available on call, be flexible, patient, reliable and able to adapt to situations easily and deal with anxiety and or frustrations expressed by clients.

To know more or to offer your time, please contact Volunteer Coordinator directly at 418 684-5333 ext. 1550.

        
          Day Center Finale cast: Lucie Girard, Lucie Lachance, Therese Landry, Thomas Massey,
Karine Morel, Danny Roche
Thank you for filling out our Volunteer Satisfaction Survey!
Here's what you had to say... 

A very special thank you to those who took the time to fill out the Volunteer Satisfaction Survey.

Many heart-warming comments were submitted alongside welcome areas for improvement. Overall volunteers responded largely satisfied with the organization, support and variety of volunteer opportunities. Volunteers unanimously stated they would continue volunteering with us and would recommend our organization as a good place to volunteer. Of those who viewed the Volunteer Training DVD, all found it useful as a tool for effective accompaniment working for seniors. Should you wish to share your thoughts, please feel free to call the Volunteer Coordinator at 418-684-5333 ext. 1550 any time of year.

Your comments will feed the direction of our goals towards continued quality care and volunteerism in 2014-2015. Thank you for contributing and ensuring your Community of Care experience is constantly improving!

 Volunteers make a difference!

  

Volunteers needed to cuddle babies at Jeffery Hale
Baby Puree Workshops this Fall 

 
Jeffery Hale Community Partners is organizing our fall baby food puree workshops. These morning workshops enable parents to learn more about infant nutrition while helping them make friends with our English-speaking parents in the same life stage.

We are looking for some caring volunteers to tend to the babies ( 3 to 8 months of age)  while their parents are working and learning together. Parents, babies and volunteers all share the same space in the multipurpose room #1135 in the Jeffery Hale Pavilion.


We need 2 or 3 volunteers/session.  
Dates: September 23, Tuesday 
            October 10, Friday

Time: 9:45 am - noon

For more information and to volunteer, please call 418-684-5333 ext. 1539. Parking is free!

A special notice: If perchance you are no longer available or interested in being a Baby Food Puree Workshop Volunteer, please let me know and we will remove your name from our volunteer database for this activity.    

 

Chitchat Club begins again!
See our new schedule 2014/15 and a special request 

The Chitchat Club is tailor-made for those who wish to practice speaking English and/or French while keeping their hands busy. These second language conversation groups meet regularly and pair English-speakers with Francophones. 

Volunteer English or French second-language teachers act as conversation monitors and guide discussion groups while chatty volunteers work in teams to wash toys, prepare children's crafts, organize cupboards, fold pamphlets and attend to other interesting assignments at Jeffery Hale Community Partners. Parking is FREE for our volunteers!   

 
ChitChatter's hard at work in April 2014 

 

Session Dates

Fridays, 9:30 to 11:30 am

 

September 26, 2014

October 17, 2014

November 21, 2014

January 23, 2015

February 27, 2015

May 22, 2015

  

A special request: We are currently looking for more French-speaking volunteers wishing to be monitors and facilitate the chatting at these tables while we work. Some of our volunteers are very eager to hear and speak in French with French-speakers. If you are interested in helping in this way or know someone who is, we would happily welcome new additions to our team!!!  For more information, please call 418 684-5333, Ext. 1550

 

The 19th annual Community Christmas Hamper Campaign Organizing Committee begins planning
.  
Hamper delivery day falls on December 20th this year, so mark your calendar early to register as a volunteer for our 19th Annual Community Christmas Hamper Campaign! 


Our organizing committee made up of representatives from a variety of English-speaking churches, school and local organizations will soon be gearing up for another season!

The first Community Christmas Hamper Organizing Committee meeting has taken place Wednesday, September 10, 2014 in the Jeffery Hale Board Room as planning gets underway.

Over 200 exuberant volunteers work shoulder to shoulder collecting, preparing and delivering holiday cheer to more than 250 households in need in our region. More information will be forthcoming in the Fall/Winter edition of Volunteer Voices.

Come be a part of it! Follow us on FacebookLike us on Facebook  
Community event volunteers needed for Fall Fest coming up next Saturday, September 20th.
A shout-out to all the community event volunteers who helped this summer from BAQ's Summer Day Camp to Repercussion Theater's visit to the JHFF Golf Tournament. 

Voice of English-speaking Quebec is reaching out to 10 volunteers willing to fill several positions during our Annual Fall Fest community event to be held Saturday, September 20th, 2014. This event will showcase local community groups and organizations while offering activities geared towards children and youth as well as performances by different cultural groups. There's something for everyone!



So if you'd like to lend a hand manning our new photo-station, supervising bouncy castles and cleaning up at the end of the day, please call 418-684-5333 ext. 1550 or reply to this e-mail, so we can discuss shifts. Lunch is free for volunteers! 

 

Don't miss your chance to be a part of the biggest community event of the year!

Park Play dates had another lovely summer
Thanks to volunteer Mom's & Dad's!

Park Play dates offer English-speaking parents and their preschool children an opportunity to enjoy impromptu gatherings in a variety of parks across the city from May to September.
 
This summer, volunteer Isabelle Green, helped to  coordinate parent volunteer-hosts to organize and oversee Park Play dates every Friday morning all summer long. Over 95 parents and kids participated in Park Play dates so far this year and it isn't over yet! Thanks to volunteer efforts parents with preschoolers had the opportunity to spend some time with friends, enjoy the outdoors and while their children explored the great outdoors!  

Our thanks to all the parents who made these outing possible in 2014:

Carrianne Bell

Chantal Thompson

Rebecca Boucher

Shelley Dupuis

Sharon Firth
Maria Di Giovanni 
Isabelle Green
Mary Hansen

Colin Jacob

Jocelyn Johnson

Tasada Junsook

Chantal Jura

Sheryl Kampenhout

Laine LePage

Devon Masciangelo
Jean Nivischuik

Cheryl Power

 
Are you looking for fitness activities for 50+ in English?

JHCS Volunteers welcome to sign up! 


Voice of English-speaking Québec has partnered with the YWCA Québec to extend our Active Living 50+ program and offer Zumba Gold and Yoga classes, in English! Open to women and men aged fifty and up who are looking to stay active through fitness activities offered in English and tailored to their physical needs.    


Sign up for Zumba Gold on Monday afternoons and Hatha Yoga on Tuesday evenings. Classes begin September 29th and run for a total of 8 weeks! Book your Tuesday afternoons in the winter for Cardio-dance classes beginning January 5th, 2015.    

 

Join our Active Living 50+ program at the YWCA Québec and try new physical activities, at your rhythm and entirely in English!    

 

Register today for one or both courses at www.veq.ca or call the YWCA Québec at 418 683-2155. Become a VEQ member for free by calling VEQ 418-683-2366 ext. 221 and take advantage of this special discount when you register. 


Saint Brigid's praised for it's family-like atmosphere and dedicated volunteers after a surprise visit by the MSSS

   

In early June, Saint Brigid's was visited by inspectors from the Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux  to evaluate the quality of the living environment at the home. This was part of a series of surprise visits that the ministry conducts every two years to all public long-term care residences across Quebec.        

 

As soon as they walked through the door, the inspectors noted a genuine feeling of welcoming and a warm, family-like atmosphere.  They found the home to be well organized and offering highly personalized care from staff that is very attentive to residents' needs.  Also outstanding in their view is the home's welcoming of residents' loved ones and openness to community involvement, including its many dedicated volunteers. 

 

In keeping with the inspectors' recommendations and in consultation with everyone involved, Jeffery Hale - Saint Brigid's prepared an improvement plan for the few points that could still use improving. To consult this report, please visit www.jhsb.ca and click the callout: Saint Brigid's.

 

Now, as always, Jeffery Hale - Saint Brigid's is committed to continuously improving and providing safe, quality, and compassionate services. 

 

  
Take-a-Break begins early this year!
Early childhood volunteers needed on Fridays
 

Take-a-Break Drop In starts again on Friday, October 24th. Preschoolers will be happy to be back in the play room with all their friends and the parents equally happy to get together and have a short break from their little ones! 


All parents deserve a moment of calm respite. This program offers a place for parents and their preschool children to get together two Friday mornings a month from 9:30 am to 11:30 am (October to May, see schedule below). Friday mornings twice a month volunteers entertain children 18 months and older to give parents a break from child care, a chance to socialize and to listen to guest speakers.

If you enjoy being around children and want to join our volunteer team, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator or our Community Organizer in charge of Early Childhood programs (418-643-5333 ext. 1580) to see how you can get involved.       

If you have comments about this newsletter or would like to pass on information to other volunteers or submit photos for our next edition,  please email: amy.bilodeau@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

Volunteers make a difference - thank you!
                                    

Amy Bilodeau, Volunteer Coordinator
Networking & Partnership Initiative