Basic Information:

The Hope Volunteer Centre accepts volunteer applications and attempts to place them in the various programs within the agency. These programs include Medical Transportation, Meals on Wheels, Lunch with the Bunch, Thrift Store, Food Bank, Office, Income Tax, E.S.S., Hope Family Place and Family Services Programs. The Centre currently has approximately 100 volunteers registered.

In April during National Volunteer Week, all the volunteers are recognized for their invaluable contributions in helping Hope Community Services reach out to the community.

                          Meals on Wheels           Food Bank

Lifeline                      Lunch With The Bunch

Meals on Wheels is a program aimed at providing hot nutritious meals to seniors who may have difficulty preparing their own meals.   Lunch is prepared by the dietitian and kitchen staff at the Fraser Canyon Hospital and delivered by community volunteers (through churches and service clubs) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  

 The Continuing Care Division of the Fraser Valley Health Region subsidizes cost of operating this program.

 A total of 2001 meals were prepared and delivered to an average of seventeen clients per month, which is just about double from last year.

This program is for seniors who live independently and would like to gather for a communal meal once a week, every Tuesday.  Lunch with the Bunch provides seniors with a chance to socialize, participate in activities, receive education/information on senior’s issues and resources plus have a nutritious hot meal (prepared by the Silver Creek Commissary). 

 Last year 898 meals were served (a 31% increase over the previous year). 

 The group enjoyed guest speakers from various clubs and organizations, playing games, doing crafts and going on field trips.  

 Lunch With the Bunch started in October 1996 and has grown to average 27 participants per week.  Volunteers help coordinate and run the Lunch with the Bunch program. 

 The Continuing Care Division of the Fraser Valley Health Region subsidizes this program.

Transportation is provided mainly to seniors who need to attend medical appointments within the area of Boston Bar to Chilliwack. 

We ask that seniors make affordable donations to this program. 

 Transportation is also provided to others who qualify under the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security, Ministry for Children and Families and Worker’s Compensation.  Pre-approval must be acquired and we will transport clients anywhere on the lower mainland. 

 A total of 7 volunteers (1403 volunteer hours) drove 41,880 kilometers on 359 drives.  That is more than three round trips to Newfoundland.

  Six volunteers attended a one-day training session put on by Revenue Canada to learn how to prepare income tax forms for seniors and low-income earners. 

 By March 2000 166 income tax returns were prepared and $677 was received in donations to this program, while our volunteers donated 122 volunteer hours doing this program.

The Hope Food Bank is community based whereby all the funding for this program is received through donations from individuals and businesses in Hope and surrounding areas. 

 Clients may access the food bank by providing I.D. for themselves and everyone in their family as well as a current proof of address.  The food bank can only be accessed once every three months and only by residents of Hope (must prove they have lived in Hope at least three months).   

We belong to the Canadian Association of Food Banks who regularly distributes food to our location.  

 The hours of operation are two afternoons per week and is completely run by volunteers.    

Last year 692 applications were received, feeding 1,544 people.  This total is down from last year, but the food bank was closed this year in December. 

Hope Community Services’ largest yearly fund raising event happens in December with our Holly Days Campaign put on in conjunction with Radio “Max”. 

Donations received from the community in December 1999 totaled $17,611.  The number of hampers increased to 325 providing food and toys for 721 people. 

 Volunteers from the community, Mr. Lewis’s Silver Creek grade 6 & 7 class, students from the Leadership Class from Hope Secondary School and members of the HCS board helped with the packing and distribution of the hampers.

Hidden Treasures is managed by a part time employee. Approximately 8 volunteers are on the list to work in Hidden Treasures at any one time, (some received through the Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security, Community Volunteer Program; Probations Community Hours and students from Hope Secondary School).   

Profits from the sales of donated items are funneled back into the Agency to support programming, building maintenance and administration.

On behalf of the Red Cross, Hope Community Services loans out medical equipment to those in the community who require items on a short-term basis (3 months at a time).  Front office staff maintains this program and all donations received are sent directly to the Red Cross.  

In 1999-2000, 79 pieces of equipment were loaned out to 60 people and $677.00 was taken in for the Red Cross.