The Salute to Senior Service awards is accepting nominations for the Tri-City's most outstanding senior volunteers.
The program honours the contributions of adults 65 and older who give at least 15 hours a month of volunteer service to their favourite causes.
Nominations will be accepted between Feb. 1 and March 31 and a winner from each province will be selected through an online vote (www.salutetoseniorservice.com). From the provincial winners, a panel of senior care experts will pick the national Salute to Senior service honoree.
Home Instead Inc. will donate $500 to each of the provincial winners' favourite nonprofit organizations and their stories will be posted on the Salute to Senior Service Wall of Fame. In addition, $5,000 will be donated to the national winner's nonprofit charity of choice.
"We all know seniors who do so much for our community," said Paul Tjosvold, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office in Port Coquitlam. "These silent heroes give selflessly, expecting nothing in return. And yet, their contributions often make a difference not only to the organizations they serve, but in changing how the public views growing older."
Senior care professionals and those who work at hospitals, senior care facilities and other places where seniors volunteer are encouraged to nominate older adults. So, too, are family caregivers and the adult children of aging parents. Older adults also may self-nominate.
To complete a nomination form online for a senior 65 or older who volunteers at least 15 hours a month go to www.salutetoseniorservice.com. A list of the contest's rules are included at the website.
Nomination forms can also be submitted by mail to Salute to Senior Service (P.O. Box 444, Toronto F, Toronto, Ont., M4Y 2L8).
For more information about Salute to Senior Service or the Home Instead Senior Care network's services call 605-552-3324.
