Community Cafe Volunteers Appreciated
The Community Cafe has depended on the dedication of its volunteers since 2011. Under the umbrella of the Southwestern Housing Stability Initiative (HSI) and the Community Education Network (CEN), support staff organize the event, but it is the volunteers who contribute highly to the the success month after month.
April 23-29, 2017 is National Volunteer Appreciation Week. In Newfoundland and Labrador the theme this year is “Volunteering shapes lives.” As for the Community Cafe volunteers, this is right on the money.
Each month over a dozen volunteers from various service and faith-based organizations gather at the Stephenville Lions Club and Zion Pentecostal Church to offer a hot meal to all who enter in, for no charge.
During April’s Community Cafe at the Stephenville Lions Club, 24 volunteers were recognized for their continue
d service to cafe patrons. Kim Kendell, on behalf of HSI and the patrons, thanked all volunteers for their hard work and their commitment each month. Each was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation and a cake celebrating the recognition was enjoyed by everyone.
Miss Kendell, also added that this year, the HSI Special Projects committee, has nominated Wilf Hillier as Outstanding Volunteer for 2016 in the Stephenville area.
Corinne Tulk, support staff with CEN and one of the organizers of the cafe, highlighted Wilf’s dedication and commitment to the Community Cafe.
Wilfred Hillier: Stephen’s Awards Outstanding Volunteer Appreciation 2016
With a dance in his step, a song on his lips and a smile worth a million dollars, Wilf Hillier makes his rounds during the monthly Community Café.
Wilfred Hillier has been an integral part of expanding the Community Café to two offerings a month. Spearheading Zion Pentecostal Church’s café on the 4th Thursday, Wilf organizes the volunteers, the menu and often times is out running around delivering a hot bowl of soup to senior shut-ins. Known for his delicious chicken with rice soup, patrons would agree that Wilf could give Campbell’s a run for their money.
Giving freely of his time, with his talent to make songs up on the spur of the moment, this kind and gentle ma
n continues to uplift the spirits of patrons attending the monthly cafes helping served nearly 3000 free meals in 2016.
Having a down day? With a smile, a warm hug, or a simple laying of a hand on your shoulder, Wilf has the ability to turn your day around.
Empathy and humility draw strangers to this loving man, but it is his larger-than-life love for humanity that has the Southwestern Housing Stability Initiative Special Projects Committee honoured to nominate Wilfred Hillier as one of Stephenville’s Outstanding Volunteers for 2016
It is the energy, drive and passion of these volunteers that keeps patrons coming back. It is what has kept the Community Cafe impacting lives over a bowl of hot soup. Over 14,000 bowls of soup in fact…Thanks everyone!
