NFCS Volunteer Lunch

Jeff Green | May 17, 2012

Photo: L-r: Linda Rush, Susan Wilby, Grey Turney and Catherine Tysick

It's always the same. Winter saves a last blast for the third Monday in April, the date of the annual Northern Frontenac Community Service (NFCS) Annual Volunteer appreciation lunch. The church parking lot is full, so it's a long cold walk from the far end of the lot, down the slick hill to the bottom level where the church hall is located.

Inside it's warm. The smell of food filters out of the kitchen. The tables are filled with volunteers from the many programs run by the agency, which in the words of emcee Mike Procter of the Adult Protective Services program at NFCS, offers “cradle to grave” service to residents of North, Central, and parts of South Frontenac Township.

From students who volunteer at the Child Centre, to friendly visitors who help shut-ins maintain their connection to the local community, NFCS volunteers are a diverse group, but they share some common interests, including a love of good food, camaraderie, a commitment to community, and the ability to groan at Mike Procter’s jokes.

After eating lasagne with salad, tea and coffee, and of course, cake, it was time for the presentations. Each of the 100 plus volunteers at the lunch was presented with a certificate and a lime green shopping bag with the NFCS logo on it.

This year, the NFCS Volunteer of the Year award went to Greg Turney, a volunteer driver who exemplifies NFCS's determination to provide service for all ages. Turney drives children for the Child Centre, and adults and seniors through Frontenac Transportation Services, one of the outreach programs that Northern Frontenac Community Services offers.