November is Diabetes Awareness Month.
Throughout the North Perth – North Wellington region, close to 300 volunteers will be going door to door asking friends and neighbours to donate to the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA).
The volunteers accept the challenge, look forward to greeting their neighbours, and go out day after day, evening after evening, until they cover their territory.
They realize how important it is to raise funds for and awareness about diabetes – for their loved ones, and for the nine million Canadians who live with diabetes and pre-diabetes every day.
After Thanksgiving weekend, chairman George Van Ankum of the North Perth – North Wellington Branch in Harriston sets out every day for a couple hours of canvassing. The people look forward to seeing him annually and have a donation ready.
Last year $49,457 was raised due to the concentrated efforts of over 400 canvassers. The branch area reaches from Clifford to Alma and Dundalk to Mitchell. Every cent donated counts toward the local canvass a goal of $50,000.
Annual appeal convenor Alice Van Ankum finds a sense of satisfaction develops when helping by donating, but the CDA needs volunteers to canvass and team captains to take a lead role.
Team captains call their list of canvassers and hand out their canvass kits. Many loyal volunteers have been canvassing for years and are willing to step back and let the younger generation get busy. Some people in their 80s are still willing to canvass a street, a rural road or a business. High school students could work in pairs and call the office to take a street. The CDA offers training and encouragement. Some committed couples team up to canvass. One drives, one knocks on doors.
For one young family, canvassing has become a family activity. Gabrielle Hershey of Palmerston and her husband David find their three-year-old toddler Oliver is keen to canvass. Gobbling up his dinner and heading out to find donations is one of his favourite mom-and-me activities.
This year, he has added his baby brother Benjamin to the outing. Oliver is very appreciative of people’s contributions every time he hands them an official receipt for income tax purposes.
A few years ago, Gabrielle joined Team Diabetes, raised funds, and ran a marathon in Reykjavik, Iceland in support of the CDA.
“Mom and me,” dads and daughters, parents and tots – whatever works for you will be wonderful for the CDA.
Perhaps a nudge is all you need to develop that sense of community and share the load to keep the CDA moving forward financially to develop more programs and services, to advocate to the government, to fund research initiatives to find that elusive cure.
Think of those around you who have developed diabetes and offer to help on their behalf. It is incredible to know that so many will benefit from your outpouring of generosity and support.
When you make that critical decision to volunteer, call the Diabetes Information Centre located at 94B Elora St. S. in Harriston at 519-338-3181 or npnw@diabetes.ca
Bonnie Whitehead is a long-time Canadian Diabetes Association volunteer
