FROM THE BRANCHES
FROM THE BRANCHES
NEARTA ’ s 2016 Recipients of the ARTA Volunteer Award
PAUL BOISVERT | NEARTA
The North Eastern Alberta Retired Teachers ’ branch of ARTA is honoured to name three members as recipients of this year ’ s ARTA Volunteer Award . Gladys Boisvert , Evelyn Collins and Gladys Lilje are long-time members of NEARTA who ended their active teaching careers in the early 1990s . Upon retirement , each expanded her efforts as a volunteer in the community .
Gladys Boisvert has volunteered many hours primarily with three groups that support local healthcare facilities . For many years she was the president of the St . Paul Healthcare Auxiliary that operates a gift shop at the hospital and maintains the vending machines . In addition to spending time as a gift shop clerk , Gladys has knitted numerous items for the shop . Many newborns have left the hospital wearing one of her knitted toques or wrapped in a knitted baby-blanket . A member of the St . Paul and Area Hospital Foundation , Gladys devotes many hours to
From left to right : Gladys Boisvert , Gladys Lilje , Evelyn Collins ensuring that the yearly Foundation fundraising event is successful . As well , she is part of the St . Paul and Area Palliative Care Association . This group not only provides respite for families of terminally ill patients , but it also financially supports three palliative sites . Gladys can be found on the August long weekend , writing receipts for the donors who have come to the Haying in the 30s Cancer Support Society fundraising event .
Evelyn Collins has had a long and varied career as a volunteer in the community of St . Paul . For many years Evelyn served the community as a member of the St . Paul and District Library Board . Her tenure on this board came at a time when the growth of an upgraded library meant devoting much time to fundraising as well as managing the facility on a volunteer basis . Evelyn also has a longstanding volunteer career with the hospital auxiliary , helping in the gift shop and making sure that the vending machines are full of the goods and drinks required by patients and visitors to the facility . For years it has been her responsibility to schedule the shifts of members working in the gift shop . Evelyn is the current president of the hospital auxiliary . She has also scheduled volunteers for the mobile breast screening service for a number of years and is a long-time volunteer with the Meals on Wheels organization in St . Paul that delivers meals to shut-ins and persons who have difficulty making meals for themselves . As well as the food itself , volunteers also provide companionship ; and the personal contact often results in recognition that some of the clients require other kinds of assistance .
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