Marco Vigliotti
A Sarnia man has received national recognition for his decades of volunteer work.
The Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada granted Jack Smith a national award of distinction for his efforts improving the Sarnia-Lambton chapter and the way it delivers health care.
“Obviously, it’s a great experience, for something you love doing anyway,” Smith said of the award, which is given to a VON member who make its services available to the broader community.
Smith has served 25 years as a board member with the local and national VON chapters. He credits growing up in a rural community with exposing him to the work it does.
“They serve a lot of people and make a lot of people happy with the things they do,” he said of VON, which offers clients more than 75 home care, personal support, and community services.
After learning the craft of quilting at the age of 65, Smith began offering his handcrafted works at the organization's annual gala.
The quilts turned out to be big sellers that have raised thousands of dollars over the years, said Scott Wilkie, VON’s community fund development coordinator.
“No job is too small for Jack,” he said. “He is passionate about VON on every level.”
Smith’s award and the contribution of its volunteers were celebrated at a recent open house at the VON’s London Line offices.