NFCS marks long-time volunteers at 30th appreciation event

Jeff Green | Apr 22, 2010

Every year during Volunteer Appreciation Week, staff at Northern Frontenac Community Services (NFCS) add welcoming people, serving food, and cleaning to their list of responsibilities.

This year, to mark the 30th Volunteer Appreciation event for the agency, which itself will be marking its 35th anniversary in June, the annual Volunteer Of The Year award went to two people who have a long history of volunteering, not only with NFCS, but for the community as a whole.

Su Leslie presented an award to Grace Wilby, who has done just about everything for the Child Centre in Sharbot Lake over the years; including filling in for the cook, helping to organize events, even going to the dump on occasion.

Marg DesRoche received her award for the work she has done at the foot clinic that NFCS offers, but her volunteer work at the Catholic Church, the Frontenac News, and for numerous other community groups was also referenced in an emotional tribute by Candace Bertrim.

The rest of the event had a decidedly lighter tone, as MC Mike Procter, who could not have been the MC of the first Volunteer Appreciation event because he has only been working for NFCS for 25 years (as of today), kept the jokes flowing throughout the presentation.

The joke was finally turned on Mike Procter when a representative from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), who was on hand to thank the three people who help 200 local residents fill out their tax forms each year, said that Mike had done such a good job that the CRA was going to give him a complimentary audit.

The Volunteer Appreciation brunch also marked two milestones for NFCS.

Sue Leslie, who has served as the Director for Children's Services for about 15 years, and Executive Director of the entire agency for the past year, is retiring this week. She introduced the new executive director, Don Amos, to the volunteers.

As well, NFCS is looking forward to celebrating its 35th anniversary this coming June 17, and a poster contest is being held to commemorate that event. Further details about the contest will be available in the coming weeks.