Big Brothers Vancouver hopes to net new volunteers through hoop project

Excerpt: “…Big Brothers Vancouver is getting a helping hand recruiting new volunteers from a former little brother. Brodan Thiel, 28, says Big Brothers played a key role in his childhood. “As a kid, I had an absent father at home and this was an outlet for me to get through and have a role model in the community,” he said….” Date of Article: April 24, 2017 Source: Yahoo News Website: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/big-brothers-vancouver-hopes-net-210755543.html

We All Need a Hug

Excerpt: “…Last week I took a press trip. Not just any press trip, but a daytime visit to Victoria General Hospital (VGH) on Vancouver Island, B.C., to witness the unveiling of its volunteer baby cuddling program, designed in partnership with Huggies….” Author: Noa Nichol Date of Article: April 14, 2017 Source: North Shore News Website: http://www.nsnews.com/living/we-all-need-a-hug-1.15077453

MEMORY LANE: Full-time volunteer works for the birds

Excerpt: “…At Maplewood Conservation Area, the goldfinches fly and rest and flicker about their daily rounds, undeterred by the driving rain, oblivious to observation. Inside Corrigan Nature House, separated from the birds and rain by a sheet of glass, naturalist Kevin Bell recalls the dawn of his interest in the wild world….” Author: Laura Anderson Date of Article: April 13, 2017 Source: North Shore News Website: http://www.nsnews.com/living/seniors/memory-lane-full-time-volunteer-works-for-the-birds-1.15285319

Meet Surrey’s ‘Top 25 Under 25’ award winners, to be celebrated April 20 in Guildford

Excerpt: “…SURREY — The city’s business community will celebrate Surrey’s “Top 25 Under 25” during an awards reception on Thursday, April 20. The seventh annual event celebrates “the incredible initiatives of Surrey’s youth 25 years old or younger.”…” Author: Tom Zillich Date of Article: April 12, 2017 Source: Surrey Now Website: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/business/419421714.html

Homeless count more than doubles in White Rock/Delta

Excerpt: “…Homelessness in White Rock/Delta has increased by 142 per cent over the past three years, according to findings from the 2017 Metro Vancouver Homeless Count. The homeless count – which lumped White Rock and Delta numbers together – reported that there are 46 homeless people living in White Rock/Delta, a jump from 19 people noted in the 2014 homeless count….” Author: Aaron Hinks Date of Article: April 11, 2017 Source: Surrey Now Website: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/news/419194624.html

Volunteers support Nanaimo community members in crisis

Excerpt: “…“I was blindsided,” Owen said. “He had three lovely girls. He was about 40 and we had grown up together.” Owen, who ended up raising one of her friend’s three daughters, reached out to volunteer with the Vancouver Island Crisis Society, a Nanaimo-based non-profit organization that has been operating a 24-hour crisis help phone line for decades….” Author: Nicholas Pescod Date of Article: April 6, 2017 Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin Website: http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/news/volunteers-support-nanaimo-community-members-in-crisis/

Victoria hospital launches volunteer program to hug babies

Excerpt: “…Victoria General Hospital wants to make sure its babies get plenty of hugs. The hospital has launched a program where volunteers will hold, rock, hug and sing to babies in the neonatal intensive care unit and the prenatal intensive care unit when their parents can’t be there. Sarah Byam is one of the specially trained volunteers in the program….” Date of Article: April 5, 2017 Source: CBC News Website: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/victoria-general-hospital-1.4057872

Power of hugs: Victoria hospital introduces new baby hugging program

Excerpt: “…A new initiative at Victoria General Hospital will help ensure babies get the hugs they need to thrive, even if parents aren’t able to be at their newborn’s side. Specially trained volunteers will cuddle, rock and sing to babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)….” Author: Asymina Kantorowicz Date of Article: April 5, 2017 Source: CTV News Website: http://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/power-of-hugs-victoria-hospital-introduces-new-baby-hugging-program-1.3355955

‘Huggers’ give boost to vulnerable babies at Victoria General Hospital –

Excerpt: “…In a nursery in the neonatal intensive care unit at Victoria General Hospital, a tiny baby squirms and gives a smile to the woman rocking her. Sarah Byam isn’t a doctor or a nurse or even young Lady’s mother — she’s one of the hospital’s first volunteer “huggers.”…” Author: Amy Smart Date of Article: April 5, 2017 Source: Times Colonist Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/huggers-give-boost-to-vulnerable-babies-at-victoria-general-hospital-1.14275907

Seniors Services Society seeks board members

Excerpt: “…The Seniors Services Society is on the hunt for board members to help it assist seniors throughout Metro Vancouver. The upcoming term will begin on July 1, 2017 and last for two years. Board meetings are held on the last Tuesday of every month at 4 p.m….” Author: Theresa McManus Date of Article: April 3, 2017 Source: New Westminster Record Website: http://www.newwestrecord.ca/news/seniors-services-society-seeks-board-members-1.13405930