Taking the day off to give back

Volunteer West Island (VWI) in Ste. Anne de Bellevue got a bit of help with its monthly Seniors’ Café last week thanks to a group of Schering-Plough Canada employees looking to make a difference.

The 20 or so employees left their desks and offices behind last Wednesday to barbecue, sing, dance, and have a good time with about 70 seniors as part of the West Island pharmaceutical company’s Let’s Make a Difference campaign.

Started in 2006, the Let’s Make a Difference initiative is an employee-led contribution campaign where Schering-Plough workers are encouraged to volunteer in the community during their work day, and donate to charitable organizations, explained Schering-Plough spokesperson Julie Wu. “We work with various West Island charitable organizations to see where would be a good fit, and help them through volunteer activities,” she said. “It’s really motivating for (the employees) to get the support from their company, and also just taking that one day (to volunteer). Most of our employees have families and children. They don’t often get that opportunity, or you put it off. This is really something we encourage.”

According to VWI executive director Paul Bissonnette, the organization has two main missions: to recruit, train, and refer volunteers for over 100 local non-profit organizations, and to help seniors by breaking isolation through events like the Seniors’ Café. “It’s a great activity giving them something to look forward to, and giving them a chance to socialize,” Bissonnette said, adding VWI is looking to work more with corporations like Schering-Plough in the future. “There are a lot of advantages to have corporations. For example, if they commit to 15 people, you can be sure the 15 people will arrive…The other thing, of course, is they’re well organized. Like today, they arrived and everything was ready.”

Wu, who volunteered at the Seniors Café herself, also said this is something she would do again as well. “It was amazing. They just have so much energy,” she said. “And, I have to tell you, they have excellent dancing skills.”