|
|
|
|
|
Westmount Gardens celebrates volunteers with appreciation dinner
Annual event during National Volunteer Week thanks volunteers for dedication and service
5/1/2026
-
Deron Hamel
|
|
Westmount Gardens volunteers (seen above) were treated to an appreciation dinner at the home on April 22.
|
|
Westmount Gardens celebrated its volunteers with a dinner on April 22 to thank them for their hard work and dedication to the residents of the London, Ont., long-term care community.
Every year, Westmount Gardens hosts a dinner during National Volunteer Week to pay tribute to volunteers and to give them a chance to relax and spend time together.
This year's meal featured takeout from Swiss Chalet, followed by warm apple pie, which Westmount Gardens life enrichment manager Adnan Resh says went over well with everyone.
“The volunteers loved the meal, as well as the time spent with one another and getting to meet some of the other volunteers, and just having fun overall,” Adnan tells S&R Today.
He adds that the entire leadership team is thankful for the volunteers the home has.
“Westmount Gardens has been fortunate to have a good number of wonderful volunteers; this is just a small token of appreciation to thank them for everything they do and to celebrate them during National Volunteer Week,” he says.
Most of the volunteers were able to attend the dinner, which also included speeches from the leadership team, including Adnan and volunteer co-ordinator Erica Baptista.
Volunteers and Westmount team members also played games, including “two truths and a lie,” and there were raffles for a gift basket and two additional draws for gift cards. All volunteers also received thank-you gift bags.
“The volunteers had an amazing time from the start. I have received five thank-you emails, and they were talking about how much fun they had and how appreciated they felt,” Adnan says.
“The volunteers know how much they mean to the Westmount Gardens family, as they are always welcomed with smiles and joy and know this is their place to be.”
Adnan says the volunteer base at Westmount Gardens “is growing by the week,” adding that more volunteers are always needed. April 22 also marked the one-year anniversary of Erica's appointment as the home's volunteer co-ordinator, a role Adnan says she “took by the tail and has excelled at from the beginning.”
“Erica loves what she does,” he says. “She is a quick learner and makes sure everything is perfect to a 'T'.”
National Volunteer Week was April 19-25. The week is marked by events nationwide that celebrated volunteers and all they do to enrich the lives of others. This year marked the 85th National Volunteer Week.
If you have a story you would like to share with S&R Today, please contact the newsroom at deronhamel(at)gmail.com.
If you have feedback on this story, please contact the newsroom at deronhamel(at)gmail.com.
|
|
|