Volunteer Lina Vallee has been provided a $500 award from a local foundation for the service she has provided for the community.
Vallee, who volunteers at the Poverty Law Advocacy Program, has been provided the Carol Hamilton Volunteer Award from the O’Brien-Woznow Foundation for her efforts in helping people in the qathet region navigate their way through difficulties.
Vallee said in 2009, due to personal and medical issues, she was unable to work anymore.
“My life had changed and I was unable to do the physical activities I was used to,” said Vallee. “So, I was looking for something that I could do that would give my life some kind of purpose.
“That was when I heard about the Poverty Law Advocacy Program and that they had a volunteer opportunity. I thought this is something I might enjoy and could be good at. I have been helping out at the office ever since.”
Vallee said she has always enjoyed helping others. Her current interests that take her time are volunteering at Poverty Law, dog/cat sitting, and her new-found love of playing pickleball.
At Poverty Law, Vallee has been a support for people requiring assistance at the office. She normally volunteers one day a week but attends on other occasions if needed, helping with activities such as disability applications, debt work, some family law and housing.
“Fielding questions is a lot of my responsibility,” said Vallee. “We deal with matters such as where people can go for resources, either in the community or through the government.”
She said the award will be a big help and it’s a big honour to follow in Carol Hamilton’s footsteps.
“I enjoy helping people,” said Vallee.
Hamilton, after whom the award was named, has extensive voluntary activity experience in the community. In 1997, she received the Powell River Good Citizen Award.
Her voluntary activities include: Porpoises Swim Club, Powell River Track and Field, the Sea Fair society, International Choral Kathaumixw, Blackberry Festival, Kiwanis Club of Westview and Powell River, the youth ambassador committee, Model Community for Persons with Disabilities Society, coordinator for Canada Day celebrations, the parade of lights, polar bear swim, senior citizens association and as a volunteer driver, shopper and visitor for people with disabilities.
Ron Woznow and Susan O’Brien were both raised by single mothers and benefitted from volunteers growing up.
“The idea of this award was to recognize all of the work that Carol has done and to award it to Lina because of the contributions she’s made,” said Woznow, “and in the process, get young people under 40 to think about how they can improve the community they live in by volunteering.”
