Special Events

Volunteer of the Year for 2003-2004
Don Brown


Shelley Brown (no relation to Don). Shelley is the Administrative Clerk
for Community Care and is the staff member who arranges
volunteer drivers for clients.

This year we honour a volunteer driver who is involved with Community Care's transportation program.

Community Care's volunteer drivers take seniors to medical appointments and shopping. Clients must call to arrange the ride at least 2-3 days in advance. The drivers are called upon to take clients to appointments as far as Toronto, Kingston and Ottawa. Our drivers also take people to appointments in Picton. It is the local rides that often take several hours because there can be many stops. To be a volunteer driver for Community Care's transportation program, the volunteers have to fill out an application form, they are interviewed, references are checked, a criminal background check is performed, we take their photo for an identification badge, and their insurance company has to be informed. To sum it up, it takes a lot of commitment to become a volunteer driver even before they take the first senior for a ride!

Our volunteer drivers provide what we call kitchen table to kitchen table service. Our drivers will help the client however they need to and that includes helping them on and off with their coat, giving them a steady arm as they walk to the car, etc. We have a wonderful group of volunteers who participate in the transportation program. In fact, we have the best volunteers in the world living right here in Prince Edward County. There is a tradition in this community to help each other. Each year we choose one person to recognize and it's no easy task to select just one volunteer when over 500 people help Community Care to help seniors.

It is a pleasure to present the volunteer of the year award to a person who has been a transportation program driver for 13 years. This volunteer carries a big stick and although he seems willing to use it at times, we all know his bark is worse than his bite! He is always a welcome sight in the office when he comes in to report on his trips... and to stir things up. He always leaves us with smiles on our faces.

This long time resident of the County served in the military for over 20 years, and was posted to CFB Picton for 3 of those years. Later he worked as a counsellor and instructor at Prince Edward Heights.

An avid curler and golfer, he is the proud father of 3 children, six grandchildren and 1great-grandchild. We have come to know this volunteer well. Even though he has had many health problems and the sudden loss of his wife last year, he still sees beyond himself to help others in the community and to help seniors stay living at home.

He is one of those volunteers whom I know I can call if all else fails. Unless he's on the golf course, he is only a phone call away! Maybe it's a ride to a Kingston hospital for a client or maybe it's someone who needs to get groceries. This volunteer will give of his time to help.

It is a pleasure to present Community Care's 2003 - 2004 Volunteer of the Year, Mr. Don Brown.

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For more information contact:
Debbie Moynes, Executive Director 476-7493