Volunteer West Island

Had a great meeting with a passionate young lady (SHARI) today who works for a local organization that connects people to volunteer needs in the West Island.

I learned a few things:
1. greatest need growing in the West Island is among SENIORS
- it's a growing demographic (probably everywhere with the boomer generation aging)
- it's greatest needs are TRANSPORTATION (getting around to the grocery store or doctor visits) & ISOLATION (the need for friendship)
2. the 2nd greatest need is among NEW IMMIGRANTS

SHARI works for this non-profit group and gets her hands dirty too. On her way back to the office she was stopping in to check on a senior who needed some help (making sure she didn't need urgent medical help).

This was an eye opening meeting, not b/c this stuff is new, but mainly b/c SHARI and others like her are making a difference by the way they care.

I hope I and others can serve some of these needs increasingly in 2009.