Those who give their time to causes that benefit Halton Hills residents are among the individuals being recognized across the region this week with Halton Volunteer Impact awards.
The honour, bestowed by Volunteer Halton, celebrates contributions local citizens are making to strengthen inclusivity and well-being in the region.
The nominated award is open to current Community Development Halton members, with no more than 10 people receiving the honour each year.
The local recipients are:
JONQUIL HOCKLEY: Links2Care
Hockley has been volunteering with Links2Care for over 30 years, supporting several different client programs. She mostly gives her time delivering hot meals to older adults and persons with disabilities in Halton Hills.
In addition, she also delivers people to meals through the Wheels to Meals program, where socially isolated clients share a meal together at a local restaurant. Clients know and trust Hockley and Links2Care reports that she's an asset to staff, able to report on the well-being of clients she serves.
ANDREW STRATCHAN: Halton Food for Thought, Halton Hills
For 15 years, Stratchan has arrived at Ethel Gardiner Public School in the early morning, well before the students and teachers, to ensure the children have a healthy start to their day with breakfast.
He arrives early to "feed the bears" - the school calls their food program the Hungry Bears Club in honour of the school mascot - and ensures they head to class ready to learn after a healthy breakfast.
Volunteer Halton says he shops, bargains with grocery store managers, and spends many hours preparing pancakes and other breakfast foods for the students.
"Volunteers change the lives of individuals and contribute in ways they might not see. Case in point, recently Andrew went to have his tires changed and the mechanic doing the work asked him about the breakfast program was doing and thanked Andrew for feeding him for all the years he (the mechanic) was at the school," Volunteer Halton said in a press release.
"Andrew's pride and work in student nutrition has been transformative for the students at Ethel Gardiner Public School and the community at large."
