Welland Optimist Club shows appreciation for students

Welland Optimist Club members gathered to show their appreciation of deserving youth in the community.

The service club held its annual Youth Appreciation Ceremony on Monday (March 2) where four Welland youths were recognized.

Coun. Leo Van Vliet presented the recipients with certificates in recognition of their accomplishments and club president Allan Wimbush handed out $500 education bursaries to each student.

The awards were handed out to Kaitlin Ives, a Grade 12 Eastdale Secondary School student; Prey Patel, a Grade 12 student and Jinnie Yang, a Grade 11 student, both from Notre Dame College, and Ava Boyer, a Grade 8 student at Holy Name Catholic Elementary School.

Ives is an active student in her school community as a member of student council. She volunteers with Rose City Kids and is also a member of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council.

Prey has completed more than 320 volunteer hours and has donated his time to help at the St. Kevin Food Drive, Pelham Food Drive and Goodwill of Welland.

He regularly volunteers in the Niagara Health System – Dialysis Unit assisting with patient care. He also volunteers in the Extended Care Unit of the Welland Hospital with the Music for Memories program using music as a tool for comfort with dementia patients.

Yang has accumulated almost 400 hours of volunteer hours and has served as the Vacation Bible School (VBS) director at Niagara Region Christian Community Church. In her role, she oversaw crafts, games, and other activities.

She also went on a mission trip to the Ouje-Bougoumou native community in Quebec and while there assisted with their VBS camp.

Boyer has been volunteering for three years at her church’s Harvest Kitchen, serving hot meals to individuals in need. She sits on the Niagara Catholic District School Board Elementary Senate for her family of schools and has accumulated 150 volunteer hours.