Madam Speaker, National Volunteer Week starts April 18, and this has been an incredible year in my riding of Barrie—Innisfil with people stepping up like never before to help.
Today, I would like to recognize several individuals and groups in our communities of Barrie and Innisfil who have been there to help each other and our most vulnerable, or to simply bring joy and hope to our communities when we have needed it the most. They are the Barrie Food Bank; Mark and Patty Sachkiw; the Innisfil Food Bank; Innisfil's incredible Jennifer Richardson and her family; Barrie Families Unite Facebook group; Dawn Mucci; the Women and Children's Shelter of Barrie; Tom Hanrahan; Deb Harrison, VP of Christmas for Kids (all year round); Marshall Green; Fill a purse for a Sister; David Blenkarn; Sandy Berube; the Coldest Night of the Year in Barrie; Tracy Baker; Lexi Capirchio; Glenn Rogers; and Bev Kell.
I will be virtually hosting my fifth annual Barrie—Innisfil volunteer awards soon to honour these and other terrific volunteers. On behalf of a grateful community and nation, I thank everyone who volunteers to make a difference in their communities and in people's lives.