A local woman is being recognized for her volunteer efforts at a long-term care home in Chatham.
The Riverview Gardens Family Council has named Deb Powers as the 2021 recipient of the Norm LaChapelle Award for Volunteerism.
According to the council, Powers has been volunteering for nearly 20 years and has volunteered over 1,500 hours of her time to the residents of Riverview Gardens.
"I was first exposed to long-term care when my mother was admitted to Victoria Residence," Powers explained. "I was so impressed with the staff and entire experience that I became a volunteer there after my mother passed away. I've been volunteering at Riverview Gardens since the building opened and love doing so...Volunteering at Riverview Gardens feeds my soul and I plan to volunteer there as long as I'm able."
The Norm LaChapelle Award for Volunteerism was created in 2019 by the Riverview Gardens Family Council in honour of fellow member and volunteer Norm LaChapelle, who passed away suddenly the year before.
"We, as representatives of Family Council, chose Deb Powers to be the recipient of the 2021 Norm LaChapelle Award for Volunteerism because of her dedication to Riverview Gardens,” said council member Janice Ward. "Like many others, she started volunteering because she had a loved one within long-term care but continued to volunteer long after her loved ones were no longer in long-term care.”
Volunteers have taken on even more importance over the course of the pandemic. With many long-term care residents at increased risk of isolation and depression, volunteers have worked to enhance their quality of life by providing one-on-one visits, virtual connections and meal assistance.
Anyone interested in volunteering at Riverview Gardens can get more information by clicking here.
