At this year's Annual Volunteer Appreciation event, the Woodstock Branch recognized Conny Schuurman with 25 years of voluntary service as a driver with the Canadian Red Cross Transportation Program and Conny received her 25 Year Milestone Award.
Conny emigrated to Canada from Holland with her husband Fred in 1969, they have four children and five grandchildren.
In Holland Conny grew up as the oldest of seven children. One of her sisters was disabled and Conny learned to look after everyone from an early age. Her mother volunteered in their community and Conny learned growing up how to help those in need and how to make a difference in someone's life with a few hours of your time.
In Canada they bought a very large farmhouse with lots of rooms, too many for their own family, so they opened up their home to foster children. For the next 15 years they looked after 18 foster children. Conny took many courses on how to cope and deal with difficult situations.
Often Conny's family looked after very hard to place children and Conny learned a lot from those years. The desire to help out is part of who Conny is, so when she had some more free time, she also started volunteering for the Canadian Red Cross as a volunteer driver. She schedules her volunteering while also operating her own business as a hairstylist at her home. Conny also became a volunteer with the VON as a support person to provide respite to parents of disabled children. Conny celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary this winter and her creative pastimes include painting, sewing, knitting, shopping and travelling.
Conny loves her volunteer work as a driver, even when it requires taking someone to a 6:00 a.m. appointment for surgery. She easily identifies those who are vulnerable or lonely and need the support.
Thank you, Conny, for your ongoing support and service with the Canadian Red Cross.