A toasty thank you was given to some Helping Hands volunteers over breakfast last week.
Jackie Shier and Sandra Scott invited those who volunteered to shovel driveways all winter long through the Snow Helpers program to Rockyview Hotel as a show of gratitude.
Scott, Helping Hands administrative assistant, said the program is about community building.
She reflected upon coming in to her office on the first big snowfall of the year to find missed calls and eight messages waiting for her.
“My heart just sunk, I thought these are all people that need snow done and I’m going to have to find more people, I was worried,” Scott said.
But after going through the messages, she discovered the opposite.
“It was all people calling to say, ‘I have the day off if you need more people to help.’ I thought, ‘we live in such a great town.’ I got all teary-eyed at my desk,” Scott said.
Throughout the season, Scott found the program created friendships between shovellers and the residents receiving the help.
“I think that’s one of the reason why we do this. We want to bring back that whole idea that if your neighbour’s having trouble, you just go out there and go help instead of calling bylaw,” Scott said. “If we build that up between people, we’re going to help each other through good and bad times.”
Joe Sabourin, a father of three, said he has developed a strong relationship with an elderly woman he helped this winter and now it’s almost as if his family has gained a grandmother figure.
“My little daughter in particular ... their crazy for each other,” Sabourin said, adding he is invited inside each time for tea. “
“She’s a very interesting woman, she’s got a very interesting history,” Sabourin said. “Just getting to know her and learning her story has been the most interesting.”
