Orangeville, ON, April 22, 2009 - National Volunteer Week is a special time set aside in April each year to recognize those who donate their time and energy to their community. This year Headwaters Health Care Centre will honour the many volunteers who donate hundreds of hours annually to better the lives of others.

The hospital is having a hat day on Thursday, April 23. When staff sees a volunteer they are asked to “tip” their hat as a way of saying thank you to all volunteers. This year’s theme is “Hands That Serve, Hearts That Care”. Headwaters will be hosting a volunteer tea with special guest Orangeville Laughter Yoga Coach, Jan MacQuarrie on Wednesday, April 29 at 2:30 pm in Shelburne and on Thursday, April 30 at 2:00 pm in Orangeville.

Moving to Mono from Peel region last year, Sharon Craig wanted to get to know her community better, so she started volunteering at Headwaters Health Care Centre. “I joined Headwaters Orangeville Auxiliary and the hospital’s House Tour Committee helping to organize the annual fall house tour fundraising event. I’ve always volunteered my time in my church, the local school and with my therapy dog Chandler. It’s great – I really enjoy it.”

“Volunteering is a great way to get to know people and give back to your community,” says Norma Mintz, president of the Shelburne Auxiliary. “The Shelburne Auxiliary is currently organizing our annual Hot Dinner on May 6th at the Shelburne Legion. Last year we served 135 hot lunches, this year we hope to beat that number!”

Throughout the hospital volunteers lend a helping hand, they visit, listen, soothe, sew, knit, porter, greet, sort and prepare. Volunteers provide chaplaincy, maintain the beautiful gardens that provide a wonderful view and area for patients and families to walk, and raise funds to purchase equipment for the hospital not funded by the government. They are the young, the ‘young at heart’ and the in-between. And their teal smocks can be seen everywhere!

National Volunteer Week began in 1943 as a volunteer recruitment effort to enlist women for wartime voluntary service. The concept of a week devoted to volunteers was revived during the late 1960s. Now every year more than 80,000 registered charities and 100,000 not-for-profit organizations across Canada pause to thank and recognize their volunteers.

The public is invited to provide comments and suggestions about hospital services. Please contact Cholly Boland, President and CEO, Headwaters Health Care Centre at 519-941-2702 ext. 2200.

Headwaters Health Care Centre
Headwaters Health Care Centre serves more than 110,000 residents in Caledon, Orangeville, Shelburne and Dufferin County. The hospital operates two sites – Headwaters Orangeville, a 108 bed acute care hospital and Headwaters Shelburne, a 33 bed chronic care hospital. Visit www.headwatershealth.ca.