At 81 years old, Eileen Pickard is the driving force behind the We Care volunteer program at 40 William Roe Blvd., ensuring the well-being of elderly, vulnerable residents through daily wellness checks.
Her tireless coordination of this vital initiative has earned immense appreciation from the building’s board, management, residents and their families.
We Care was established several decades ago, but it was 15 years ago when Eileen, already a dedicated volunteer in the program, was entrusted with its leadership.
The program consists of a group of volunteers who gather at the building’s library each day to receive ‘check-in’ phone calls from residents between 8:45 a.m. and a little after 9 a.m.
“Some people are lucky enough to have someone checking in on them every day,” Eileen told NewmarketToday. “But not everyone does, so this is to make sure they are okay.”
If a resident fails to make their call, the assigned volunteer promptly reaches out to ensure their well-being. In cases of no response, Eileen contacts the superintendent, and together they conduct a wellness check-in on the resident.
“It is a wonderful thing,” Eileen said, “I hope to do it as long as I am living at home.”
Outside of the We Care program, Eileen has spent most of her life giving back. She volunteered at the hospital in the arthritis program, helped with funeral lunches at her church and assisted in preparing meals for those in need.
Throughout her retirement, she stayed busy volunteering with Meals on Wheels with Community and Homes Assistance To Seniors.
Now, as she grows older and less mobile, she is grateful that she can still give back through We Care.
Eileen’s selfless efforts have brought peace of mind to countless individuals and their loved ones.
To let her know that her good deeds have not gone unnoticed, NewmarketToday surprised Eileen with gifts to show our thanks for her kindness.
“Eileen's dedication, compassion and commitment to We Care for so many years are very well worth NewmarketToday's Random Act of Kindness,” said Zelda Davidson, Eileen’s nominator..
Thank you to our generous co-sponsors, Boston Pizza, Dawson Manor Spa, FairtyPatch Flower Farm and The Little Red Bake Shop, for helping us make this Random Act of Kindness possible.
Our nomination form is always open for nominating someone in the community who selflessly gives of themselves despite challenges or hardships, is positive in the face of adversity, or is just plain extraordinary and deserves a special surprise.
If you would like to support our Random Acts of Kindness program, please email [email protected].
NewmarketToday is proud to make a difference in our community by highlighting extraordinary individuals and organizations with our Random Acts of Kindness, a foundational piece of our NewmarketToday Cares program.
The NewmarketToday Cares team's mission is to create meaningful change in Newmarket - and inspire others to do the same.
