Niverville Service to Seniors boasts a plethora of programs created specifically for older residents. Few stop to acknowledge, though, that it takes an army of volunteers to make this programming work, and the majority of them are themselves seasoned individuals.

The fact of this isn’t lost on Cindy Plessis, coordinator for Niverville Service to Seniors, and Elissa Leah, client services manager for the Niverville Credit Union Manor.

In celebration of the dedication of Niverville’s senior volunteers, Plessis and Leah recently threw a party and pulled out all the stops. Hosted at the Heritage Centre on December 16, the atrium came alive.

The Niverville Nighthawks honoured these volunteers by serving as butlers and table hosts. Adela Unrau beguiled with her harp instrumentals and JR Charron, two-time country music award-winner, enacted a lively performance.

Perhaps the most meaningful part of the night, though, was the fact that every volunteer in attendance was there because their peers believed they deserved to be. They were nominated by those who’d been moved by their quiet acts of kindness and the joy they gave others.

“I never imagined I’d be overwhelmed with emotion as the nominations came in,” Plessis told the crowd. “Why people were nominated left me amazed. It’s not just the grand gestures that we do in life but the small ones that also bring people joy.”

What astounded her further, she said, was the fact that many of the nominees felt unworthy of such a distinction.

“You go about your day making people happy around you and you don’t even know that you’re doing it,” Plessis added. “The world needs more of all of you.”

Leah, too, spoke words of affirmation. She pointed out that Service to Seniors programming is about far more than keeping Niverville’s older residents active. It’s about supporting long-term independence and reducing isolation and loneliness.

“None of this would be possible without you,” said Leah. “Thanks for the phone calls, the rides to appointments, the meals made, the smiles shared, and the moments of listening that mean more than words can express. Your service reminds us that community is built through kindness and commitment.”