TELUS volunteers help renovate SADI Youth Centre
TELUS employees have made a difference in the lives of Summerland’s youth. More than 35 TELUS employees, family members and retirees donated their talents over several weekends and evenings to help renovate a huge, open space at the Summerland Asset Development Initiative youth centre. The volunteers donated carpentry, electrical and plumbing skills, as well as tons of elbow grease and TLC, turning an old piano into a coffee bar and creating an inspirational wall.
“This has made a huge impact on our facility for sure, we are all very grateful” SADI program manager Alyson Lindsay said, Wednesday. “It’s a room the kids love to use but it was under-utilized because of the poor shape that it was in. It now gives our kids more options and places to be, to play games, hang out and have some quiet space.
“When you are working with teens from middle school to high school-age, they do need a certain amount of separation to feel comfortable.”
Lindsay said with only one staff member, co-ordinating such a mammoth project would have been challenging and she appreciates the leadership shown by the TELUS volunteers.
As well, many of the kids from SADI helped out along with several board members from the non-profit organization.
Other significant donations came from Sierra Flooring, Summerland Builders Mart, the Summerland Waterfront Resort Hotel, plus several private donors. In total there was $11,000 of supplies donated to the project which included everything from paint to furniture.
Since its creation in 2011, the TELUS Thompson Okanagan Community Board has donated more than $1 million to a long list of community projects in the region. SADI originally applied for a grant but didn’t quite fit the required criteria. The board still loved the idea and were able to find an alternative, eventually donating $2,000 along with many hours of volunteer labour.
“Everyone involved did a great job and we hope this will be a lasting legacy for our youth in Summerland and we’re very happy to have been part of this project,” said Steve Jenkins, Okanagan Valley general manager for TELUS.
The project’s showpiece was the inspiration wall. Each youth had the opportunity to paint a canvas with an inspirational word, quote or picture. These contributions have been hung to create a gallery-style art piece and more can be added as new young people join the centre.
On the net: www.sadiyouth.ca