The sunshine streams into the new bright, modern offices of the Canadian Cancer Society Quesnel Unit. Due to rising rental costs, CCS office volunteers searched out space that would match their needs for a more reasonable rent and found an ideal location in the old Community Futures/new Fireside Heating building in South Quesnel.
Located at the back of the building, CCS volunteer Anne Burgess is very pleased to offer wheelchair accessibility and great parking close to the doors.
Burgess was quite overwhelmed and grateful for all the volunteers who helped in the move.
Even before the transfer of office equipment and supplies, one of the CCS volunteers and her mother went in and painted the walls a soothing yellow.
“Our own volunteers were much more than just moral support in this move, they also helped ensure we maintained an office here in Quesnel,” Burgess said.
The regional office was considering closing until local volunteers became adamant about keeping an office here.
For more than 30 years, CCS has had a presence in Quesnel, 13 of those years in the Front Street location.
“We are a reliable, long-term tenant,” she added.
Quesnel Unit faces the same challenges as most organizations – they’re always looking for good, long-term volunteers.
“The demographics of Quensel have changed and volunteers are hard to come by,” Burgess said.
“But our organization is a little different, in that almost every person has been touched by cancer and that draws people to our organization.”
She went on to say the perfect volunteer demographic is between 40 – 65 years of age but those people are also incredibly busy with family, careers, finances and other social responsibilities.
“What we offer though is rewarding, enthusiastic, fun activities as we raise awareness, educate and fundraise in the battle against cancer. Our mandate is to enhance the lives of those who are dealing with cancer.”
The two primary activities for the Quesnel branch are the daffodil campaign and Relay for Life.
The daffodil campaign, which is soon to get underway, includes fresh daffodil sales and the sale of daffodil pins.
Organizers are already busy on Relay for Life, but it takes an entire community to pull off the 12-hour fundraiser in LeBourdais Park. Teams registration has begun and the sooner you sign up the more pledges you can secure.
Volunteers can contact the office 778-466-3332.
The CCS office in Quesnel offers prostate and breast cancer support groups; a great website (which you can do at the CCS office); drop-in discreet counselling with volunteers where many are cancer survivors themselves; and can also provide wigs, prosthesis and scarves for those
currently battling cancer.
“We also have a library of resource material,” Burgess said.
Regardless of how little or how much time you can provide, Burgess said CCS is very flexible. “Whatever works for you, works for us.” And there’s such a variety of volunteer positions available including reception, speaker, counsellor, team building work, fundraising, leadership development, board and executive positions, media liaison, writing and of course working as a team to host fundraising events.
“We, at the Quensel Branch, are grateful for any time a volunteer can give to us,” Burgess said.
So if you have a couple of hours to spend volunteering or perhaps you’d like to form a Relay for Life team or just find out more about a particular type of cancer or treatment options, contact the friendly voice at the other end of 778-466-3332 or drop by 679 Highway 97 South, around the back.