Dianne Greenwood is very humble about her nomination for Quesnel Volunteer Citizen of the Year.
“I was very surprised,” she said.
“I don’t think I’m special. There’s so many who do so much in this community. If people didn’t volunteer nothing would get done. I’m simply one of them, I just have a different role.”
Greenwood has been volunteering with Quesnel’s Good Cheer campaign for the past 24 years, 20 years as the coordinator.
“Seeing as the organization is 50 years old, I’ve been at it for almost half those years,” she said proudly.
She added Quesnel is really unique, especially with the Good Cheer campaign.
“The community has been so supportive,” she said.
“Even if people initially donate, if they learn of another need, they step up again.”
Greenwood says she volunteers because of the Biblical aspect.
“God says do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” she said.
“We as a family have been down three really tough roads, if it hadn’t been for people helping us, we wouldn’t be here, we wouldn’t have a home. One of those roads we were homeless. Our situation changed in one day.
“I know it from both sides, we’ve had the needs and we’ve had our needs supplied.”
Volunteering is something Greenwood has always done. She remembers, as a small child, packing wood for her senior neighbours and that unselfish spirit has stayed with her throughout her life.
Greenwood sees people in need as individuals, believing everyone has their own story.
“Through Good Cheer I’ve seen it all, people who have risen from their troubles and also those trapped by circumstances,” she said.
“I’ve seen recipients become donors, which is a good thing. They don’t forget what they’ve gone through.”
The Good Cheer campaign begins in November and Greenwood said once she finished one campaign she begins praying for the next.
But it also takes a thick skin to meet some of the challenges and she credits being raised with six brothers for developing the skills she needs to handle those challenges.
Each season, Greenwood looks forward to Good Cheer and another opportunity to help those in need.
“I love Good Cheer,” she said.
“I’ll do it as long as I have the strength.
“It’s very humbling to be nominated because I don’t see myself as any different than the rest of the volunteers in this community.”