Happy New Year... And Many More
The Board and staff of Humber Community Seniors' Services Inc. would like to take this opportunity to wish all our clients, volunteers, and supporters a wonderful 2008. Last year was a very special one for us since we celebrated our 40th anniversary. In these 40 years of service in the community, our programs have expanded and our client base has grown significantly. And we certainly couldn't have come this far without the precious commitment of the hundreds of volunteers that have helped us through the years.
Times have changed, too, and finding new volunteers that can commit during the week has become more and more difficult. That's why we're hosting an "Open Orientation" for prospect volunteers on Wednesday, February 20, from 10 am to 12 noon. Tell your friends and neighbours, and invite them to discover how they can make a difference in our community and many lives. Please pass along our telephone number so those who are interested can call us and let us know they're coming so we can better plan for the event. We will be meeting in our office, which is located at 1167 Weston Road, just half a block north of Eglinton Avenue West.
Don't forget to check out our website at www.humberseniors.org, where you'll be able to learn more about our services, and also review our development in the
History page, decade by decade. As time passes, and with your help, we will be working at compiling news to write the next lines of our story.
For more information about the "Open Orientation", or to volunteer,
please call Silvana at 416-249-7946.
Please note that the screening process for all new volunteers now includes a Police Records Check to ensure the safety of our clients.
Thank YOU!
The last couple of months of 2007 were extremely busy at and around
Humber Community Seniors' Services Inc. We carried out the United Way Fundraising Campaign
at the end of the fall, and then our own drive for the Christmas Basket program, as well as the traditional
Share Your Festive Spirit campaign, which was originally launched in 2002 in support of our agency programs.
We wish to extend a sincere "Thank you" to everybody – from the big companies to the small community organizations, and from our clients and volunteers to all corporate and private donors- who contributed to the success of our campaigns.
Special thanks to the following businesses and organizations for making of last year's Christmas Baskets the best that our clients have ever received:
- Bacon Basketware
- Campbell Company of Canada
- Carlton Cards
- Deni's Food Basics (Jane Park Plaza)
- Dominion - Royal York
- Entrée Plus
- Far East Food Products Ltd.
- Humberview District Girl Guides
- Imperial Coffee & Services Inc.
- Irving Tissue
- J.B. Christopher BPI
- Kodak Canada Inc.
- Lounsbury Foods
- Medical Group Pharmacy (98 Guestville Ave.)
- Peek Freans - Kraft Canada
- Real Canadian Wholesale Club (605 Rogers Rd.)
- Ross' No Frills (Black Creek Dr. & Eglinton Ave. West)
- Shoppers Drug Mart - Jane & Trethewey
- Shoppers Drug Mart - Westside Mall
- W.H. Voortmans
- Wal*Mart - Stockyards
- Ward Funeral Home
- Weston Lions Club
- York Lions Club
Fundraising News
Toonie Tuesdays helped us spread the good fortune again in 2007. With our in-house 50-50 draws, we not only shared pots with the winners, but also other attractive prizes such as gift cards and dinner certificates. Besides, our own volunteers voted to decide what to do with the agency's half of the money raised, and we got a very comfortable couch and a beautiful coffee table for our Volunteer Lounge.
Toonie Tuesdays are back in 2008, but now monthly! Tickets can be purchased, as before, 1 for $2 or 3 for $5.
The pot will grow throughout the month, and we'll have the draw on the last Tuesday of the month.
The first draw of the year will be on Tuesday, January 29, 2008. The next Toonie Tuesdays are
scheduled for the following dates: Tuesday, February 26; Tuesday, March 25; and Tuesday, April 29. Thanks in
advance for participating – and good luck!
 Interested in advertising with us? Know of a restaurant or store in the community which could profit from some additional business? We're opening our pages to YOUR BUSINESS.
We're taking an informal survey to find out how interested businesses in the Mount Dennis - Weston area are in advertising with us. We could include the ads in our upcoming Newsletters, on our website, and under other formats to be determined in the future.
Please let us know what you think by calling Silvana at 416-249-7946, or emailing her at valentone@humberseniors.org.
Our Volunteers: Bernard Muiru
Bernard Muiru came to our agency looking for an opportunity to help others, as he used to do in his home-country, many miles and an ocean apart from Canada. Work responsibilities took him away from us for a couple of months, but now he's back, driving our clients to their appointments and helping us spread the word about the services we provide in the community. Let Bernard tell you his story in his own words.
Having been born and raised in a religious home, my parents and my church taught me the importance of "Love thy neighbour as thyself". I grew up with the attitude of working with and for the community, helping its people. I became a chairman of a church in my community, and besides all the church functions, my main work was to visit the old and the sick in the community, every Sunday after the morning mass. Later in the years, I became a volunteer for an NGO, where I used to visit and give counselling to sick people.
One day, when I was walking on Weston Road, I saw a sign reading "Volunteer Drivers Needed". I then decided to become a volunteer for Humber Community Seniors' Services because I get a special satisfaction when I help the seniors who sometimes don't have anybody to talk to. As a Volunteer Driver, I take seniors to their doctors' appointments and enjoy talking with them. Sometimes I have to help them in and out of the van, and I feel great.
I have been volunteering since June 2006, and I'm hoping to continue with it as long as I am able to do it.
Besides taking seniors to medical appointments, I sometimes volunteer for community outreach events, like going to Shoppers Drug Mart on Seniors' Day or to the Weston Farmers' Market to introduce the services that we offer. I also do Meals on Wheels when there is need.
Given good health and time, I would like to continue volunteering, especially in the sector of seniors. I like and enjoy volunteering with HCSS because the entire staff are so friendly and work as a team. They are people of one family.
It is my pleasure to invite people who would like to volunteer to join HCSS where they can enjoy the friendly atmosphere of staff, volunteers, and clients. Please be mindful of others.
Transportation Program
Mall Trips
Join us for some fun shopping, and enjoy the relaxed schedule and from-door-to-door service. The cost for the return trip is $12.
For the months of February and March 2008, we will be going to the following Malls on the following dates:
CLOVERDALE Mall
Tuesday, February 12
Tuesday, February 26
Tuesday, March 11
DUFFERIN Mall
Tuesday, February 19
Tuesday, March 25
NORTH YORK SHERIDAN Mall
Tuesday, March 4
YORKDALE Mall
Tuesday, February 5
Tuesday, March 18
Please call Renata at 416-249-7946 for details and to reserve your space.
Dates to Remember
FEBRUARY 2008
Thursday, February 14
St. Valentine's Day
Monday, February 18
Agency CLOSED for Family Day
Wednesday, February 20
Open Orientation for Prospect Volunteers at HCSS
MARCH 2008
Sunday, March 9
Daylight Saving Time Begins
Wednesday, March 19
Escorted Monthly Outing
Friday, March 21
Agency CLOSED for Good Friday
Monday, March 24
Agency CLOSED for Easter Monday
APRIL 2008
Thursday, April 24
Escorted Monthly Outing
April 27 - May 3
National Volunteer Week
Note: For detailed information about our Escorted Monthly Outings, or to reserve your space, please call Laura at 416-249-7946.
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