The Kelowna’s Gospel Mission is celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Week with more than 130 regular volunteers, plus multiple supporters and local businesses contributing to its cause.
The volunteers for KGM have totalled more than 25,000 hours of service this year in aiding the vulnerable and homeless population in Kelowna.
Sonja Menyes is the manager of volunteers and she said that KGM is made up of brand-new volunteers and volunteers who have been around for close to 20 years.
“The volunteers are all about giving so receiving can sometimes be hard for them. The volunteers will often share with me that their reward is how they feel after they know they’ve made a life just a little bit better. They feel a sense of purpose and of making a difference,” she explained. “ It is not always an easy place to volunteer, sometimes seeing the people we serve at their worst. But there are also those days where something miraculous happens – maybe someone gets their ID back or finds a place of their own, or is reunited with family, and that makes it all worthwhile.”
During the week KGM will provide a special individual thank you and treats to the volunteers.
READ MORE: Volunteer with St. John Ambulance in the Okanagan