Montgomery Sisam volunteers honoured for a year of helping

At a volunteer appreciation event in April, CAMH staff from Volunteer Services and the Addictions Program feted corporate volunteers from Montgomery Sisam Architects Inc. for their ongoing contributions and commitment to client care and wellness.

The Montgomery Sisam corporate volunteers have worked in a number of different programs at CAMH, from participating in creative writing with the students of the Toronto District Secondary School at the College Street site to facilitating art with clients at the My Word client library at the Queen Street site, to serving breakfast to clients at the Russell Street site.

Staff from CAMH Volunteer Services and the Addiction Medicine Service join corporate volunteers from Montgomery Sisam to celebrate a year of service with the Breakfast Club.

Montgomery Sisam, which designed CAMH’s buildings on White Squirrel Way as the first phase of its Queen Street redevelopment, has become intrinsically familiar with our work, our values and the impact it can have on people with mental health and addiction problems, according to Jim Davey, coordinator of CAMH’s Corporate Volunteer Program.

The Addiction Medicine Service’s Breakfast Club operates in the Resource Room during the last full week of each month, a time many clients, who rely on social assistance or have low incomes, run out of funds and cannot afford to eat.

Mellissa Verge of Montgomery Sisam has been instrumental in having her firm’s corporate volunteers work with Resource Room staff members Beverly Clarke and Carolyn Shim to serve a hot breakfast to hundreds of clients over the past year.

The plaque given to Montgomery Sisam corporate volunteers in recognition of their one year of service to the Breakfast Club.

Alice Liang, a principal of Montgomery Sisam was a catalyst in creating a partnership with the CAMH Corporate Volunteer program when it was first developed. The breakfast provided by the Resource Room is vital to the clients they serve and can help individuals maintain focus on their recovery. They have bonded with the clients who have benefited from the generous donations of breakfast items from bagels, eggs, pancakes, bacon, fresh fruit, coffee and juice from the Montgomery Sisam volunteers.

Deputy Clinical Director of CAMH Addiction Programs Dennis James and Manager of Addiction Medicine Shirley Smith presented a one-year commemorative plaque to the volunteers during a clinical meeting where staff were able to extend their thanks to Montgomery Sisam.

Michael Taylor of CAMH Volunteer Services expresses his heartfelt thanks to Montgomery Sisam corporate volunteers.

Michael Taylor, CAMH’s Manager Spiritual and Religious Care and Volunteer Resources, gave a heartfelt thank you in celebration of the service and investment Montgomery Sisam has provided for a year to the Breakfast Club.

“Montgomery Sisam is a perfect example of the partnership we have forged through the corporate volunteer program. They have fully understood the importance of reaching out to their community and we look forward to sustaining this relationship,” says Jim Davey.

If you would like more information or would to make a donation to the Resource Room Breakfast Club please contact Beverly Clarke or Carolyn Shim at 416 535-8501, extension 6615. If you would like more information about the Corporate Volunteer Program please contact Jim Davey at 416 535-8501, extension 6238.

Photo credits: Cindy DeSousa, social worker, CAMH Addiction Medicine Service

 

 

 

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