A community organization wouldn’t be what is without the people behind it. Such is the case of Sun Youth. With a regular staff of about 55 people, the organization can count on a diversified group of dedicated employees, each bringing something different to the table. Over its 65 years of existence, the organization’s cofounders Sid Stevens and the late Earl De La Perralle were able to surround themselves with valuable individuals who contributed each in their own way to the development of the charity.
Each year the organization makes a point of thanking its employees for their hard work by organizing an appreciation day for all of them. This year’s activity was held at the St-Laurent Sun Youth warehouse on October 11, 2019 on what turned out to be a bright sunny day. Participants were treated to a barbecue followed by an afternoon of party games. The staff was grouped into 6 teams competing against each other in a friendly way. They took part in a variety of physical skill games, games of chance and other party favourites. Because teams were made up of staff from different departments, people who don’t usually work together were able to socialize and get to know each other better. Again this year, the appreciation day was a fun-filled teambuilding activity. Within each team staff had to work together, putting their skills in common to get the best result. Thus, the teams that came in first place was the one where staff were able to work together the best but all teams did great, showing how much the Sun Youth personnel is a cohesive group of individuals.
Many of the organization’s staff started off as volunteers so volunteering is a great way to join the big Sun Youth family. Those interested can contact the organization’s Volunteers Coordinator, Lisa Perrault, at 514-842-6822 #251 or through email at [email protected]. The warehouse is also a great place for companies to organize team building activities. It can accommodate 3 to 25 people at a time for a half-day or a full day of volunteer work, where participants sort food donations and prepare food hampers which will then be redistributed to families in need through the organization’s emergency food bank.
Feature photo: Some of the Sun Youth staff at the organization’s staff day on October 11, 2019. Photo: François Turgeon
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