Volunteer Programme Committee
Phyllis Cacciotti, Chair & Treasurer Candy Tracy, Secretary Gloria Hall, Manitoulin Lodge Representative Donna Noble Peggy Clark Kathi Haines Donna Creed
The Volunteer Programme Committee is made up of a dedicated group of people who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of the Residents at Manitoulin Lodge. The members meet monthly and work closely with Gloria Hall, the Life Enrichment & Volunteer Coordinator, to organize activities, outings and celebrations for the Residents. Volunteers have long been an integral part of Manitoulin Lodge, with the first volunteer group being formed only five months after the home opened its doors in May 1977! We always need more volunteers so if you are interested in being a part of our caring group, please contact Phyllis Cacciotti (see Contact page) or Gloria Hall at the Lodge.
The Committee spearheads two main fundraisers every year to raise money, all of which goes back into the Resident Programs outlined below. With the Volunteer Programme now forming part of the Gore Bay Manitoulin Lodge Auxiliary Inc., receipts can be issued for charitable donations, including “in memoriam” donations. If you would like to donate to the Volunteer Programme, please go to our Donation page.
BBQ & Bake Sale
The BBQ & Bake Sale is a summer event held in the front parking area of the home. Live entertainment is arranged and presentations are made to the Volunteer of the Year and to the Resident of the Year. Homemade hamburgers and locally bought smokies and hotdogs are barbecued and served along with salads and ice cream and are sold on a donation basis. Many volunteers are contacted ahead of time to donate homemade baking, preserves, etc. to the Bake Table. The BBQ & Bake Sale held on June 24th, 2022 generated a whopping $3,182.36 in revenue.
Christmas Bake Sale
Prior to the pandemic, this event was our largest fundraiser and was held every November. It included a Bake Table with homemade baking, candy and treats; Bazaar Tables; Penny Tables; Silent Auction; Door Prizes; Raffles; and a Christmas Tea served with homemade baked goods. On November 17th, 2019, the event brought in $3,038.35. We will be looking at the possibility of organizing this fundraiser again now that the COVID restrictions have lessened.
On any given day, you will also see volunteers who come in to assist with monthly activities, participate in events and spend time with the Residents as follows:
Hair Care - porter Residents to and from the hair salon on Monday and Wednesday mornings
Church Services - accompany Residents on the Angel Bus to various churches on Manitoulin Island most Sundays, weather permitting
Floats - work with Residents to make theme decorations for Canada Day and Christmas Parades and assemble floats
Special Monthly Teas - set-up large dining room, decorate by theme and serve homemade treats to Residents
Mens’ & Ladies’ Breakfast - prepare home-cooked food, set-up front lounge with dining tables and serve Residents a special breakfast
Supper Club - prepare home-cooked food, set-up front lounge with dining tables, serve Residents a special meal and clean up (see pictures at bottom)
Make Pies - encourage Residents to assist in preparing ingredients and making pie crusts for homemade pies for the Supper Club
Picnics - provide an outdoor venue in the courtyard for a BBQ or transport Residents on the Angel Bus to local parks or a volunteer’s home for a picnic
Pet Therapy - bring animals in to visit with Residents
Sewing Classes - volunteers work with residents on various sewing projects and making crafts to sell at Craft Fairs
Bingo - set-up bingo every Monday afternoon and Tuesday evenings, assist Residents to come to large dining room and help them play and select their prize
Musical Events - set-up front lounge every Tuesday afternoon and assist Residents to get there, interact with them and participate in sing-alongs, serve treats and assist Residents to return to their rooms
Worship Services - set-up front lounge every Wednesday afternoon and assist Residents to get there, interact with them and participate in singing hymns and the services, serve treats and assist Residents to return to their rooms
Tuck Shop - open up the cantine and assist Residents who wish to buy goodies
Encourage Residents to share their many talents such as filleting fish, knitting, crushing cans or just having fun
Robbie Burns Day - set-up front lounge to commemorate Robbie Burns Day in January with bagpiper, an Address to the Haggis, toss the caber, golf game and serve homemade treats
Lumber Jack ‘n Jill Day - set-up front lounge to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a lumberjack theme—play a curling game and have flapjack flipping and nail driving contests and serve homemade treats
St. Patrick’s Day - set-up front lounge and play bowling, Pin the Shamrock on the Leprechaun, an Irish trivia “fishing game” and serve homemade treats
Angel Bus - accompany Residents on medical and other appointments as well as on outings
One to One Visitation - spend time with individual Residents—chatting, playing games, assisting them with personal tasks, taking them out to run errands, etc.
Gardening - purchase flowers and plants for the courtyard and assist Residents to prepare flowerbeds and plant
Decorating - encourage Residents to participate in decorating the home and “dressing up” for all the various celebrations and seasons
In addition, there are special outings and seasonal events such as:
North Channel Cruise & Luncheon - September 17th, 2019
Supper Club - January 30th & February 21st, 2020
Art Workshops - January 17th & 31st, 2020
Vivian Levensohn Award for Volunteerism
Tom Sasvari was honoured for his volunteerism on February 21st, 2020 at Manitoulin Lodge during the Mens’ Breakfast. This was very appropriate since Tom volunteers every month to assist in cooking and serving a homemade breakfast to the male residents at the Lodge. There were several people who took the microphone to congratulate Tom as a very community-minded individual. He is passionate about the many worthy causes on Manitoulin Island, volunteers for many of them and travels near and far in the course of a day to ensure there is coverage of community events in The Recorder newspaper where he works.
Easter Sunday Celebration at Manitoulin Lodge - April 12th:
In spite of the lock-down at Manitoulin Lodge due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Residents celebrated Easter Sunday in their own unique way!
“Maalox and nose drops and needles for knittin’, Walkers and handrails and new dental fittin’s, Bundles of magazines tied up with string, These are a few of my favorite things.
Cadillacs, cataracts, hearing aids, glasses, Polident, fixodent, false teeth in glasses, Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings, These are a few of my favourite things.
When the pipes leak! When the bones creak! When the knees go bad, I simply remember my favourite things and then I don’t feel so bad!
Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions, No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions, Bathrobes and heat pads and hot meals they bring, These are a few of my favourite things.
Back pains, confused brains and no fear of simmin’, Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin’, And we won’t mention our short shrunken frames, When we remember our favourite things.
When the joints ache! When the hips break! When the eyes grow dim, I simply remember the great life I’ve had, and then I don’t feel so bad.”
In the News
Manitoulin Expositor; September 11, 2020: Manitoulin Lodge hosts first annual fishing derby . . .
Landing the big one! The first annual Manitoulin Lodge Fishing Derby was held recently. In photo from left are Lodge residents Howie Lauber, Steve Boorer, Lodge activities coordinator Gloria Hall and Jean Robinson.
Manitoulin Expositor; April 9, 2020: Beautiful card offers a ‘thank you’ to Manitoulin Lodge Nursing Home staff . . .
The sign says it all! This beautiful, supportive card was placed in front of the Manitoulin Lodge Nursing Home building in Gore Bay last week by an unknown person(s) who expressed the feeling of all Gore Bay and area community members for the tremendous job being carried out by staff at the Lodge, during these most difficult of times with COVID-19.
Manitoulin Expositor; March 17, 2020: Lodge residents, staff celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day . . .
Fun for all at St. Patrick’s Day celebration! This resident of the Manitoulin Lodge Nursing Home in Gore Bay participates in bowling, one of the many games that residents of the Lodge had the opportunity to take part in at the celebrations that took place at the nursing home last week.
Manitoulin Expositor; February 26, 2020: Tom Sasvari honoured with the Vivian Levensohn Award . . .
Manitoulin Lodge activities director and the most recent Vivian Levensohn Award recipient Gloria Hall presents Tom Sasvari with a plaque for being the 2019 recipient of the volunteerism accolade. Mr. Sasvari, when not busily covering many community events for the Manitoulin West Recorder, gives back at events such as the monthly men’s breakfast held at the Lodge, where he was caught unawares last Friday.
Mr. Sasvari, left, enjoys a slice of his celebratory ‘Cinnabundt’ cake (made by Heather Nodecker) while former Manitoulin Publishing Co. owner Rick McCutcheon admires the storied list of past Vivian Levensohn Award recipients
Manitoulin Expositor; January 31, 2020: Robbie Burns Day celebrated in grand style at the Lodge . . .
Jack Brady, at the podium, delivered the ‘Address to the Haggis’ while Dave Beaton played the bagpipes at the Robbie Burns Day celebration held at the Manitoulin Lodge Nursing Home last Friday.
Manitoulin Expositor; July 19, 2019: Island couple hosts barbecue for residents of Manitoulin Lodge Nursing Home . . .
Gracious hosts! Jim and Connie Dalrymple get ready to serve residents of the Manitoulin Lodge Nursing Home the barbecued lunch they had prepared for the event. The couple has hosted an annual barbecue for the residents of the Lodge for the past five years.
Manitoulin Expositor; June 28, 2019: Manitoulin Lodge presents annual awards . . .
Sue Farren, left, and Gloria Hall, both of the Manitoulin Lodge Nursing Home in Gore Bay, present the Resident of the Year Award to Howie Lauber. The award was presented during the Lodge’s annual June Days celebration and barbecue last Friday.