LAC LA BICHE – On Feb. 14, a group of youth with the Next Gen Teen Volunteer group in Lac La Biche celebrated Valentine’s Day by spending an afternoon with residents of Lacalta Lodge.
Marcus Stevens was one of those Next Gen Teen Volunteers who visited with seniors living at Lacalta Lodge in Lac La Biche. Stevens, who played Cupid for the event, had a wonderful time socializing with the residents and playing games such as bingo with them.
“How joyful the seniors were and how happy they were to have us,” he told Lakeland This Week.
“I also don't have any grandfathers that are alive and only have one grandma here, so I like talking to the seniors and hearing their stories,” said Stevens.
Stevens, who is a Grade 9 student at JA Williams (JAWS) High School in Lac La Biche, has been volunteering since he was about 12 years old. As a member of the Next Gen Teen Volunteer group, he has also helped out with other events in Lac La Biche County, including the annual Festival of Trees, Halloween and Family Day.
He is also a member of the 2995 Lac La Biche Army Cadets and does a lot of volunteering with that organization as well. Volunteering, Stevens explained, has helped him gain confidence. He has also made many good friends through the endeavours.
“It means giving back to my community and I also get to meet so many people. It is also good work experience for me. I really like volunteering because of all the different things I get to do,” he said.
According to Christine Martin, a community outreach worker with Lac La Biche County FCSS, the Next Gen Volunteer group was started in 2018 as a way for teens to contribute to the community.
“It serves as a great way for them to gain experience with people and develop skills that will come in handy in the future,” Martin said.
These skills include planning and facilitating events, working with food, and knowing about the safety aspects of activities.
Experiences such as spending time with seniors, Martin said, are great opportunities for the teens to volunteer in a space that’s safe and secure. Throughout the year, the youth members rotate between helping at Lacalta Lodge, Golden Sands senior living facility, as well as the long-term care unit at the William J. Cadzow Healthcare Centre in Lac La Biche.
While it can be challenging to find a day when all the members of the Next Gen Teen Volunteer group can get together to volunteer for a few hours, organizers are able to find enough help to make it happen.
“I just can't believe how generous the teens are with their free time and they're more than happy to spend a day off school visiting the seniors or doing other activities in the community,” Martin said. “It's such a tangible way to show how selflessness and generosity can impact someone else and how we all have the power and ability to make someone else's day better.”
