The healing effect
Charity sends used medical equipment overseas
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/04/2018 (2866 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Two volunteers from an organization that ships medical supplies to impoverished countries have been recognized for their work.
Valerie McIntyre and Roma Maconachie from International Hope Canada (IHC) attended a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on April 17, in which Gov. Gen. Julie Payette presented 42 volunteers from across Canada with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers.
Formerly known as the Caring Canadian Award, the medal recognizes Canadians who have made significant, sustained and unpaid contributions to their community or abroad.
The event was part of National Volunteer Week, from April 15 to 21.
“It was overwhelmingly humbling,” McIntyre says. “You know that there are always people out there that are doing more than you, and I think Roma and I both felt overwhelmed.”
“It was thrilling,” Maconachie adds. “It was just extraordinary (and) unexpected. It was wonderful.”
McIntyre, a retired medical laboratory technologist, and Maconachie, a retired occupational therapist, were instrumental in starting IHC in 2001. IHC was founded on the principle that no usable piece of health-care equipment should be sent to a landfill if it can address a need somewhere around the globe.
Maconachie set up and managed the organization’s warehouse space and helped to establish crucial partnerships.
McIntyre developed the organization’s policies and procedures documents, as well as its bylaws. She was instrumental in gaining charitable status for the organization.
Both women have served as president on the IHC board and both continue to volunteer Wednesday and Saturday mornings, unpacking donated medical supplies, sorting them and getting them ready for shipment.
IHC has delivered more than 800 tons of supplies and equipment to communities in more than 40 countries.
Shipments have included everything from swabs and bandages to wheelchairs, beds, X-ray machines and an ambulance.
McIntyre, who was born in Lethbridge, Alta., and raised in Winnipeg, also volunteers with CancerCare and in her congregation at Westminster United Church.
She was inspired to start volunteering as a result of the two years she spent working in the medical field in Indonesia in her late 20s.
“I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for developing countries,” she says.
Maconachie was born and raised in London and moved to Canada after graduating from college.
She has been involved in a variety of health-care organizations and considers volunteering a way to give back.
“Giving back has seemed important to me because I feel I’ve had a very fortunate life on the whole,” she says.
IHC is thankful for the duo’s many contributions, vice-president Dorothy Ridd says.
“I have immense respect for these ladies and the strong leadership they provided,” Ridd says.
The organization is completely run by volunteers. Anyone interested in getting involved with the organization can phone 204-774-1102 or email info@internationalhope.ca.
Both McIntyre and Maconachie cite the friendships they have formed over the years as one of the things they most enjoy about volunteering with IHC.
“The camaraderie is great,” McIntyre says. “And somebody always brings cookies.”
If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com.
Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron.
Every piece of reporting Aaron produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Volunteer opportunities
THE following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, please contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations, but can assist you in finding an opportunity. To learn more about its programs and services, go to volunteermanitoba.ca or call 204-477-5180.
Prairie Places Inc., which supports 25 adults with intellectual disabilities in the community, has an opening for a board member this fall. This is a great opportunity to work with a not-for-profit agency for a fiscal year or two and support your community. Please contact executive director Quinn Adams-Sneisen or president Linda Chernenkoff at ppi@mymts.net or 204-489-7951, particularly if you have accounting experience.
The OCD Centre Manitoba — a non-profit mental-health organization that provides education, information and peer support to those affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder — is looking for passionate, energetic volunteers to join its board of directors. Applicants will preferably be familiar with OCD through lived experience (personal or family) or experience working in the area of mental health, with previous fundraising, program development and/or board experience. Meetings are once a month, plus occasional ad hoc committee meetings. Please send your resumé to president@ocdmanitoba.ca or call 204-942-3331. Applications will be accepted until May 18.
The Canadian Red Cross is looking for people to join its team of dedicated volunteers who are prepared to help people impacted by disasters such as forest fires and floods.
For more information, go to redcross.ca/HeroesWanted or call204-982-7330 or email vrs@redcross.ca.
Assiniboine Park & Zoo is seeking ambassadors to greet visitors, provide directions and enhance guest experiences in the zoo and park. Volunteers may also train to be zoo interpreters. Shifts are three hours long and available seven days a week. Must be 16 or older. The zoo is also looking for students aged 14 to 18 to join a team of Zoo Camp Crew volunteers. Earn a 40-hour volunteer credit in one week, gain work experience for your resumé, make new friends and have fun while supporting the camp counsellors at the Zoo Day Camp. Shifts are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays over the summer holidays. Apply at assiniboinepark.ca/volunteer or call 204-927-6074 for more information on either position.
Seven Oaks House Museum, a provincial heritage site, needs a volunteer tour guide to welcome visitors and explain the history of the museum and homestead. Background education and training is provided. Flexible time commitment. The museum is located in West Kildonan and is open daily from Victoria Day through Labour Day, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with some evening events. Email curator/manager Eric Napier Strong at sohmuseum@gmail.com.
The Royal Aviation Museum is looking for visitor services volunteers to help greet people and/or work in the Windsock gift shop. Shifts are usually three hours and available seven days a week. To apply, contact Diana Ginter at 204-789-0736 or diana.ginter@royalaviationmuseum.com.
Heritage Winnipeg is seeking volunteers for Doors Open Winnipeg the weekend of May 26-27. Volunteers help welcome guests into architectural and cultural gems not normally open to the public. Apply online at wfp.to/Ku8 or contact Heritage Winnipeg at info@winnipegheritage.com or 204-942-2663 for more information.
The Winnipeg School Division is seeking volunteers to help assist students through its Adult English as an additional language program. Experience working with students and good communications in the English language are a requirement. Email Bushra at balraimi@wsd1.org for more information.
The Manitoba Prostate Cancer Support Group has openings for board members/volunteers for fundraising, public meetings, fairs, presentations and administrative work. No special skills are required, only a willingness to help. Email eschade@mymts.net or call 204-489-1648.
The Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library is seeking a treasurer with proven bookkeeping/accounting skills, excellent English skills and a minimum of three years experience in Canada. The treasurer maintains an accurate account of all finances, prepares a biweekly package of information for the Artspace Arts Management bookkeeping services, maintains organization of financial files and presents a financial report at the monthly board meetings. The treasurer also completes the GST return, T4 slips and annual charity return, assists with preparation of annual financial reports, presents reports at the annual general meeting and sits on the fund development committee. Board meetings are usually the first Wednesday of the month, at 6:30 p.m. Call 204-615-3951 or email mcml@c2centreforcraft.ca for more information.
Manitoba Angel Dresses is seeking a public relations co-ordinator responsible for increasing awareness of the organization and developing an effective communication and media relations strategy. A volunteer co-ordinator is also needed to recruit and retain volunteers.
E-mail info@manitobaangeldresses.com for more information about either position.
Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron.
Every piece of reporting Aaron produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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