Despite having her hands full, Jo Tanouye still finds time to give back to the community.
Mrs Tanouye is this month’s recipient of the Volunteering Mid and South Canterbury Volunteer of the Month award.
Mrs Tanouye was nominated by Alzheimers South Canterbury for the funds she raised for the organisation and for the lasting impact and support she had given both the organisation and people living with dementia in the area.
She worked fulltime doing night and day shifts, had a family to juggle and older parents to check in on, and a puppy to train, but still carved out time to volunteer with Alzheimers South Canterbury.
Mrs Tanouye had become a volunteer at the organisation after a friend had asked her to help sell raffle tickets, and — when the friend left — she reached out to let organisers know she was still available to sell tickets, ‘‘or whatever you need’’.
Five years later she was still helping.
Mrs Tanouye said she did a circuit exercise class on a Monday, then grabbed a bacon and egg McMuffin which she ate on the way to the Alzheimer’s social group.
The group Minds in Motion encouraged social engagement and was facilitated by professional staff which provided valuable respite for carers.
With a lot of the same people visiting weekly she had got to know others.
‘‘I get a lot out of it.’’
She said she helped make teas and coffees, and then — when the group got under way — she would sit with members to offer a helping hand.
She still sold raffle tickets for the organisation, seated outside grocery stores or her workplace at The Warehouse for five hours a week while trying to raise much-needed funds for the group.
While she had been shy when she was younger, she said she did not struggle any more; she said the older you got, the less you worried about it.
While she was not keen on the spotlight, Mrs Tanouye said it was worth it if others could see that not only retired people could volunteer.
Or — if they were hardpressed for time — the importance of simply buying a raffle ticket which could help an organisation along.
‘‘You don’t have to dedicate hours to doing stuff.’’
She said receiving the award was quite overwhelming.
‘‘I wasn’t expecting anything. You just do it because it helps others or, you know, you feel good helping.
‘‘I’m sure others do a lot more than me.
‘‘You get a lot back. And you meet people you probably wouldn’t ordinarily.
‘‘If other people can see this and think about volunteering or just be a bit kinder to others or think more outwards to other people and stop and say hello at the supermarket or, you know, be a bit more patient with others.’’
