Making a difference in the lives of seniors

Transcona

The difference one volunteer can make is not something Lorri Dahl takes for granted.

Each year, the Transcona Council for Seniors runs a variety of programs aimed at getting seniors out of the house and interacting with their peers.

“Isolation and loneliness are just as much a health detriment as stroke, heart disease, and dementia,” said Dahl, the council’s seniors resource finder. “We don’t want any senior feeling alone or isolated as they go through the aging journey. That’s our goal.”

The council relies on a team of 80 volunteers to deliver the programs, which include exercise classes, meals, art classes, support groups, and more.

“We need to encourage our seniors to get out of their house as much as possible, so we need these volunteers to offer these opportunities,” Dahl said. “All of our programs run throughout the year, with the exception of some exercise programs (which break for the summer). Everything (else) is a go, all year long.”

The hours and effort volunteers put in to the programs is not lost on Dahl, nor the sense of accomplishment and purpose that volunteering can provide.

“When I chat with volunteers and ask what volunteering meant to them, most say it gives them a sense of purpose,” she said. “They have a feeling of pride, but mostly they love knowing they’re making a difference to another.”

One of the council’s longest-running programs provides rides for seniors to their medical appointments.

“We have been doing that for (over) 20 years, as long as the council has been running,” Dahl said. “We are always looking for more volunteer drivers. The amount of seniors who aren’t comfortable driving or driving far away is increasing.”

Volunteer drivers are the backbone of the program, Dahl added.

“For our drivers, our dispatcher lets them know that we have rides to book,” she said. “A driver can say no, if they’re not available, so you can flex your time with us. Drivers also get a small stipend for each ride.”

Another program that has gained in popularity among Transcona seniors is a grocery access bus, which takes seniors to and from local grocery stores three times per month.

“We have two volunteers who ride the bus to make sure our seniors get on the bus and off safely, and helps them with their groceries,” Dahl said.

An annual fashion show, hosted by local sponsor Beautiful You, provides seniors with a fun outing to get a glimpse of some new spring and summer apparel. This year, the fashion show will be held on Saturday, April 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. at 328 Whittier Ave. W.

“Beautiful You owner Connie Andrusiak brings in models who model some of the beautiful clothing that she has,” Dahl said. “It’s a great time. We have volunteers there to serve refreshments and coffee. It’s a lot of fun, and we sell out.

Tickets for the show are $10 and can be purchased at Beautiful You (115A Regent Ave. W.) or by calling Dahl at 204-222-9879. The deadline for ticket sales is April 2.

To show the council’s appreciation for all the hard work its volunteers put in over the course of a year, the council is hosting a volunteer breakfast on Friday, April 24, to coincide with national volunteer week, which runs April 19 to 25.

“Our board cooks and serves pancakes and sausages and eggs, and we give them a certificate and a small gift,” Dahl said.

“It’s so important to us that we let our volunteers know how much they mean to us, as a council, and the difference they make in people’s lives every day, and that the hard work, dedication, and compassion they put into their volunteering does not go unnoticed. We need them to know that we really appreciate what they do for us. Without them, there would be no programs to offer our seniors. They play the most important role in our council for seniors, for sure.”

For more information, visit transconaseniors.ca