A majority of the 40 volunteer members with the Dorcas Ladies in Osoyoos were on hand for the group’s annual volunteer luncheon Monday afternoon at the Osoyoos United Church. The Dorcas Ladies have been operating the popular thrift shop at the church since 1962 and have generously assisted local organizations and worthy causes for more than 50 years in Osoyoos. (Keith Lacey Photo).
A group of ladies who have been doing fantastic community service within the Town of Osoyoos for 54 years took the time to give themselves a little pat on the back on Monday afternoon.
The Dorcas Ladies, a group of volunteers who help run the Thrift Shop in the basement of Osoyoos United Church, held their annual general meeting and volunteer appreciation luncheon in the main hall at the Church on Monday afternoon.
Most of the organization’s 40 volunteers showed up to enjoy some good food, a little music and camaraderie.
The United Church Thrift Shop has been operated by the Dorcas Ladies since 1962.
Marie Therrien, the current president of the Dorcas Ladies, thanked all of the 40 dedicated volunteers who have given so freely of their time over the past year to ensure the Thrift Shop continues to be a popular place in the community.
The Dorcas Ladies have also sponsored the Osoyoos Alternate School of Independent Studies (OASIS) at Osoyoos Seconary School for many years.
OASIS is designed to help students who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to be successful in the regular school stream.
For the most part, students in the program struggle with a variety of behavioural issues and OASIS volunteers provide each student an opportunity to learn in a more individualized environment, with one-to-one learning.
The teacher in OASIS works together with a child care worker to ensure that the program goals are met and student goals are continuously reviewed and worked on.
Enrolment in the OASIS program varies from year to year, but each year on average, there are 18 students enrolled from Grade 8 to Grade 12. All students enrolled are capable students and the expectations for exams and course work follow the regular B.C. curriculum, but OASIS also provides life skills course material to many students.
Each year, OASIS students are given the opportunity to become connected to their community – both the school community and community at large – and it’s expected that students in the program will volunteer their services for both school and community events.
Brittany Mendes, a Grade 11 student in the OASIS program, thanked the Dorcas Ladies for their strong support of the program.
She is very confident that she will graduate Grade 12 next spring in large part because of the OASIS program, which relies heavily on the financial support of the Dorcas Ladies, she said.
“We couldn’t be any more blessed or grateful,” said Mendes.
Mike Safek, the principal at Osoyoos Secondary School, was on hand for Monday’s luncheon and was joined by Mendes and another young member of the OASIS program.
The United Church Thrift Shop has been a big part of the Osoyoos community for decades and operates almost exclusively from the generosity of local citizens who drop off items each and every day, said Therrien.
Those items are then sold at very reasonable prices and the profits generated are used by the Dorcas Ladies to worthy causes in the community.
The Dorcas Ladies have made contributions to worthwhile projects at the regional and provincial level in the past, but the board has made a decision to assist as many local causes as possible this year and moving forward, she said.
“We have decided that we’re going to try and help out as many local people and groups as we can,” she said.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
