Douglas employees give back to New Westminster

Volunteers paint the Wee Care Day Care kitchen a bright spring yellow.

March 17 was painting day for volunteers from Douglas College and RBC who had joined together for the first Douglas College Community/Employee Engagement Project – a complete makeover of the kitchen at the Wee Care Day Care on Seventh Avenue in New Westminster.

Volunteers arrived at 9:15am, and worked in two shifts, under the leadership of Biology instructor Len Millis, until 7pm.

Walls and cupboards were stripped, washed and sanded, pipes were cleaned, tables sanded, primed and painted and ceilings and walls were painted twice in white. Cupboard doors, paneling and moldings were painted a bright spring yellow with other furnishings painted a handsome dark brown.

Muffins and coffee were followed by pizza and pop with volunteers bonding over sore muscles and tired arms.

The Wee Care Centre Society’s Daycare has always had a close relationship with the College. Douglas College students have been doing practicum work there for the past 10 years and children from Wee Care Centre Society’s Daycare come to Douglas College every week to “teach the teachers.”

The huge smile on daycare coordinator Roxene Harding’s face when she saw the spruced-up kitchen at the end of the day was priceless. “Thank you! Thank you! I cannot believe how you all worked so hard to give us this,” she kept repeating.

Thanks to Hazel Postma (External Relations) and Marie Gonzales (Human Resources) for coordinating the project, to all the volunteers who contributed their skills, time and enthusiasm and thanks to RBC Plaza 88 for covering the equipment costs.

Volunteers

Darren Edwards (Contractor, Facilities)
Hazel Postma (External Relations)
Jaime Laprise (Royal Bank Volunteer)
Jason Kurylo (The Training Group)
Len Millis (Biology)
Marie Gonzales (Human Resources) and friend
Nagina Khalil (Learning Centre) and friend
Samantha Saldanha (Human Resources) and friend
Spencer Wood (Royal Bank Volunteer)

Watch for future announcements on opportunities to give back to the Douglas College community!