.jpg;w=800)
National Volunteer Week is April 24-30, 2022. Below, we've profiled a Port Moody volunteer who is making a difference in the community.
LARRY COLEMAN
PORT MOODY
1. What city do you reside in?
Port Moody
2. What is your full-time job?
I’ve been retired for about 12 years.
3. What organizations do you currently volunteer with?
I currently volunteer with the Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society, as well as with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I have now driven more than 1,000 trips taking cancer patients from their home to their treatment centre and wait for them to complete their treatment and then return them home. I lead our society with this number and looking forward to reaching 2,000 trips.
4. What organizations have your volunteered with in the past?
I have volunteered with Life Line Crisis Centre, Eagle Ridge Hospital, Canask, Canadian Cancer Society, Cops for Cancer and Ride2Survive.
5. Why do you volunteer?
Because it’s the right thing to do. At the moment, I have the time and ability to help others and it brings a meaning to life.
6. What makes a good volunteer?
Someone who is passionate about the cause and is willing to step up and give of themselves where they can.
7. What skills do you need?
The only skills required are to be compassionate and the ability to listen. Everything else just falls into place.
8. What advice do you have for people who are looking to volunteer?
If you find the right organization to volunteer with it will be the best thing you will ever do. Listen to your heart.
9. Do you plan to volunteer more in the future, with other organizations? If so, which ones?
I will continue as a director and driver with the Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society and Make-A-Wish Foundation as long as I can.
10. Any words about National Volunteer Week, April 24–30?
Please volunteer and make a difference in someone’s life including your own. You won’t regret it. Our mission statement is to serve cancer patients in need with compassionate and personalized transportation to care with community funding. Our projection for 2022 is to make almost 27,000 drives as a society. In 2021 we drove almost 3,300 cancer patients trips from Tri-Cities and 464 patients. Overall for 2021, we drove 428,407 kilometres. We now have 303 volunteers and are 100 per cent volunteer run. We have no office or staff and we all work from home. Go to volunteercancerdrivers.ca.
CAN YOU HELP?
Tri-City residents (ages 19 and up) are invited to the Volunteer Job Fair, hosted by the Community Volunteer Connections and the Coquitlam Public Library, on April 23. Organizers will be at the City Centre branch of the library (1169 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to “recruit” volunteers for upcoming events and activities. The fair coincides with National Volunteer Week. No registration is required.
MORE: volunteerconnections.ca
