Giving Back to the Community – Day of Service in Warman

Great Plains College, along with the City of Warman, proudly hosted the 5th Annual Day of Service on September 25, 2019. This year students from Great Plains College and City of Warman staff volunteered by raking outdoors and visiting with residents at Warman Mennonite Special Care Home, helping make cookie jars for the upcoming craft and bake sale at Diamond House and helping with a community cleanup by picking up litter around Warman.

Great Plains College Student Volunteers at Diamond House, Warman. July 25, 2019.

Volunteers gathered at Great Plains College in the morning before heading out to their respective service positions. Jill Jenkins, Regional Manager of Great Plains College, spoke about the program, “This event is really about the meaning of community and giving back to your community. Every year we do a debriefing at the end (with the volunteers) and it amazes me how much people gain from a day like today and how it really gives us a sense of the meaning of community, and the meaning of gratitude.” Volunteers were fortunate to spend time visiting with and working alongside seniors at the local senior homes. Jenkins encouraged them to be mindful of the fact that “these are people who have given to the community themselves in so many ways, for many years.”

Jenkins introduced Mayor Sheryl Spence who also also wanted to emphasize that point. “Those people in the nursing homes have been in our community for years and years and they have given before us, so let’s honour them.” Mayor Spence also spoke about the relationship between Great Plains College and the City of Warman and the importance of serving within our community. “Great Plains College and the City of Warman have had a working partnership for almost 20 years that has developed into a friendship. The seeds have been planted so deep, the roots have spread out so wide, that I know that it doesn’t matter who leads these organizations, this fine work will continue on.” Mayor Spence thanked the volunteers for their willingness to serve. “The work that we do benefits all ages, from little ones to the more senior ones in our community, and all the people in between.”

Robin Bendig, Program Co-ordinator who spearheaded the Day of Service five years ago, said, “It’s important to know that we reach out to the community agencies and see what’s important to them.” She explained how the Day of Service initiative has given in a variety of ways over the last five years from clothing drives for children’s clothing to hosting fun activities for local daycares to attend, to volunteering at the local senior care homes as well as the community litter pick up which benefits the entire community of Warman. 

Thank you to Great Plains College and the City of Warman staff who volunteered their time to give back to our community.