Anne Soldan Volunteers for Almost 72 years

Anne Soldan Volunteers for Almost 72 years

Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent

Anne Soldan came to Vegreville from Andrew as a young bride of 17 years old. Since that time, she has volunteered for the Community of Vegreville and elsewhere for 72 years as of this coming June.

“I volunteered for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Canadian Cancer Society where we canvassed for money to help them to raise funds. I also volunteered when my children were at school for Vegreville Skating Club, some of the hockey and for the Kinette Club of Vegreville, Royal Purple Ladies, I am on the board for the Senior Citizen Sunshine Club of Vegreville, I also volunteered for Canadian Red Cross, Vegreville Hospital’s Auxiliary, Canadian National Institution for the Blind (CNIB), and other clubs and places that are too numerous to name,” Anne said. When asked why she started volunteering, Anne said they were very poor 71 years ago and they volunteered to have a social life. “We didn’t have any money and we were just happy to get together. We used to pay 25 cents for a babysitter to go to a meeting. Then the most we could stay at the meeting was for two hours. I wasn’t the only one, we were all like that. Also, when I first moved to Vegreville I was working in a furniture store and people used to always tell me to come to the Royal Purple’s meeting and then they told me of another function and volunteering just ballooned from there. “I enjoy the camaraderie from volunteering; meeting other people. When I first started volunteering we had no cars or anything. So, we were isolated in a sense. But someone used to pick us up and we would then go to a meeting,” Anne said.

Anne Soldan has volunteered in Vegreville for nearly 72 years, and would recommend it to anyone. (Submitted/Photo)

Anne said there aren’t many challenges to volunteering that she can think of. “But we were dedicated and diligent in doing our work properly.” Anne closed by saying she would recommend for others to volunteer so they can get out and meet people.