Pedvac to honour founders

The Port Elgin Voluntary Action Committee will mark a milestone anniversary next year by honouring its founding members.
In 2009, Pedvac will mark 25 years of providing a wide range of services to the greater community. Executive director Val MacDermid said last week that the board of directors recently decided to honour those persons who helped to launch the initiative in 1984.
"We'll be purchasing a bronze cast plaque which will be affixed to the outside of the building and we're asking the public to donate to the cost, which we expect to be around $250. As well, we're hoping friends and family of our founding members will want to be part of the initiative and will also contribute if they are able to," MacDermid said.
She added that a collection jar will be placed at the check-out area of Pedvac's used clothing and furniture boutique to aid in the initiative.
"We'll also be placing a pottery plaque, which will contain all of the names of the founding members, inside the building. This plaque is being made and donated by local potter and former Pedvac board member Rachel Morouney," she said.
MacDermid explained that in 1984 a group of area residents came together with the goal of finding a way to distribute used clothing for people in need.
"From that one idea came the organization that exists today. An organization that meets the needs of all the community, not just those facing social or economic hardship," she said.
Representatives of many area churches took part in the original endeavour which was launched in the former St. Clement's School building. Several years later the organization was reorganized, with the election of board members and the appointment of an executive director.
Since that time Pedvac had provided many services to many people; those services include a food bank, Christmas boxes program, school lunch programs at both Port Elgin Regional School and Tantramar Regional High School, the used clothing and furniture boutique, youth at risk, recreation and homework programs, literacy programs, free income tax preparation and advocacy for persons requiring all kinds of assistance.
"Of course there are a lot more things we'd like to do but we just don't have the resources," MacDermid admitted.
Pedvac raises much of its resources through a variety of fund-raising initiatives but also receives grants from various organizations and donations from businesses and individuals. Daily operations are handled by the three full-time and one part-time staff. However MacDermid was quick to point out that, without its more than 200 regular volunteers, the organization would not be able to offer the services that it does.
"Volunteers are the backbone of the organization; they are truly what holds Pedvac together and we just couldn't do all that we do without them. Pedvac is recognized throughout New Brunswick as a model for a community-driven organization supporting many social programs and our volunteers are a huge part of that," she said.
MacDermid said the organization recently purchased the premises which had been rented for many years.
"We're grateful to St. Clement's Roman Catholic Church for offering to sell us the building for $1. In the short term it shouldn't cost us any more to operate the building than in past years when we were renting. However we know that sometime in the near future we'll have to replace the roof; but we'll deal with that when the time comes. Regardless, the board is determined that this (anticipated large expense) will not affect the services we currently provide," she explained.
For more information on Pedvac programs and services, contact Val MacDermid at(506) 538-7638, Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.