Volunteers and family council fill Frost Manor with gratitude

Vi O'Leary shares her thanks with the OMNIway

January 3, 2012 -- Kristian Partington

Frost Manor life enrichment co-ordinator Vi O'Leary can't say enough how important volunteers are to Frost Manor residents, and after the family council hosted a Christmas celebration Dec. 11 she was compelled to share her gratitude with the OMNIway.

Council members had put together a raffle basket and announced the winner at the Christmas event, where family members, residents and staff gathered to honour the festive season.

Council president Margaret Cameron also announced the raffle managed to raise $322, a sum O'Leary says is quite significant, and will go towards enhancing the home for residents.

"That's the most money I've seen raised out of one raffle," O'Leary says, "and it's always such a nice boost for the residents' council funds."

She says the money helps with outings, noting she'd recently taken residents a bus trip to Markham and the fuel cost alone was around $300.

New furniture in the palliative care room, a big-screen TV or a new mantle over the fireplace are all enhancements to the home that have come about through the generosity of volunteers who take the time to organize various fundraisers, says O'Leary.

For her part, Cameron says her mother was a part of the frost manor family for 11 years,  and after she passed away, Cameron felt she had an obligation to staff members who'd cared for her to carry on her work with the family council.

She says while the group is there as an added oversight to the home's operations, she rarely hears of anyone having any serious concerns.

"It's not always about issues," she says, "it's about how well their family members are being taken care of."

If she and the other council members can contribute to that care through a little fundraising, she says, they're happy to do so.

For their efforts, and those of so many other volunteers, O'Leary says she's entirely filled with gratitude.

If you have a story to share, please contact 800-294-0051, ext. 24, or e-mail kristian(at)axiomnews.ca.

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