Inside
the Cupboard
Issue 1 | Spring 2015
SHARING THE NEWS VITAL VOLUNTEERS
Welcome to the
Lending a hand where it’s needed most
first edition of
“Inside the Cupboard,” our new
and revitalized
newsletter.
We’re thrilled to offer this quarterly
publication to share what’s happening
at the Lending Cupboard.
Each edition, we’ll focus on a different
spotlight group and, for this inaugural
newsletter, we’ve chosen volunteers,
the lifeblood of our organization. The
Lending Cupboard serves over 3,000
people each year because of our volunteers. Volunteer Week in April provides
a great time to say thanks, but we also
wish to extend our sincere appreciation
every day to all the volunteers who help
us to help others.
I hope you enjoy this first edition and
be sure to look for our newsletter
throughout the year – we’ve always got
exciting things to share!
Wendy Madden
Executive Director
An unexpected surgery or an accident can throw your world off balance and suddenly make life difficult. This is the situation for many of
the Lending Cupboard’s clients but, even when things may seem overwhelming, volunteers are there to help people get back on their feet.
“Everything our volunteers do impacts the Lending
Cupboard,” says Audrey Carr, volunteer coordinator. “We rely heavily on volunteers for everything
from helping clients find the equipment they need
to keeping items clean and in good repair to doing
office admin work. We’re definitely a volunteer
driven organization.”
Volunteers repairing equipment
For volunteers like Lynn Kondziolka, who has been
with the Lending Cupboard since August,
her time here is
time well spent.
“I first heard
of it when
a friend
of mine
received
Cleaning a chair
equipment,” she explains.
“When I went over and said I was
interested in volunteering, I was welcomed with open arms. These are just
wonderful folks who have become like
a second family to me.”
Kondziolka loves the opportunity to
connect with clients. “The people are
super, and it’s so rewarding to help
make life easier for them,” she says.
“We’re all doing this to help people,
and I’ve found it’s amazing how much
it’s helped me too.”
NUMBER NUGGETS
Volunteers make the Lending
Cupboard tick, and here’s what the
numbers tell us from last year.
7,200+ volunteer hours in 2014
76# of regular volunteers
10-12# volunteer board members
Read the expanded version of this
article at www.lendingcupboard.ca
Lynn Kondziolka
Produced by
The Lending Cupboard Society of Alberta
5406C 43 Street, Red Deer, AB T4N 1C9
P: 403.356.1678 E: [email protected]
www.lendingcupboard.ca
Follow us!   
Wendy Madden, Executive Director
Audrey Carr, Volunteer Coordinator
Writer & Editor
Shelley Newman,www.thewriteanswer.ca
Layout & Design
Kerstin Heuer, www.heuerdesign.ca
Inside The Cupboard | Issue #1 | Spring 2015
LEARNING ABOUT THE LENDING CUPBOARD
Thousands helped, thanks to one woman’s vision
“When my husband was sick, we
couldn’t find a bed for him – we were
willing to rent or buy one, but the
problem was that we wouldn’t be able
to get it soon enough,” says Jaqui
Joys, founder of the Lending Cupboard. “I was told to call Fred Kingsmill
of Kingsmill Department store in
London, Ontario, because he offered
free medical equipment for as long as
people needed it.”
After receiving that tremendous
gift, Joys took action and created
two new organizations based
on Kingsmill’s model. “Alan
was from Medicine Hat, so we
started the Alan Joys (AJ’s)
Loan Cupboard there in 2003,”
she says. When Joys moved
to Red Deer, she started
a similar organization here. “It was a
pretty rocky start in
both places, but the
more people told me
it wouldn’t work, the
more I was determined to make it
work.”
miracles, because I’ve
seen it time and again:
the impossible can
happen when you need it
the most.”
Read the full article at
www.lendingcupboard.ca.
Kingsmill asked Joys if she believed in
miracles, and the next day he provided
one when he delivered the much-needed bed. Alan used it for the remaining
two weeks of his life.
In 2006, the Lending
Cupboard was officially launched,
and it has helped
thousands of people
since. “I believe in
SPOTLIGHT
COW PATTI THEATRE – Saturday, March 21
“I am doing this as payback, because I,
myself, used the service, and I feel I owe
it to my community.”
Al Cosh
Volunteer since 2011
volunteered 135 hours in 2014
Professional actors bring you “The Ladies Foursome,” the
entertaining sequel to “The Foursome,” written by one of
Canada’s funniest playwrights, Norm Foster. Doors open at
11 a.m., with brunch at 11:30 a.m. and showtime at 1 p.m.
“It is a worthwhile organization. People
really appreciate that this services is
provided for everyone for free or by
donation. I enjoy helping people who are
genuinely grateful.”
Dorothy Marshall
Volunteer since 2009
volunteered 111 hours in 2014
WANT TO GET
INVOLVED?
Contact our volunteer coordinator
at the Lending Cupboard:
[email protected]
or 403.356.1678.
Jaqui Joys
In 2013, the Lending Cupboard lent
out 7,122 pieces of free medical
equipment, helping 3,200 clients.
The idea behind it all began years
before with one hospital bed, provided to Jaqui and Alan Joys when
they needed it most.
Enjoy an afternoon of brunch theatre at Cow Patti Theatre in Lacombe.
This brunch theatre event will be an enjoyable afternoon out
with friends, and a portion of all ticket sales will support the
Lending Cupboard – what could be better than that? For
information on Cow Patti Theatre, visit www.cowpatti.com.
To purchase tickets, please contact the Lending Cupboard
at 403.356.1678.
LADIES’ LUNCHEON - Thursday, May 21
Mark your calendars for the annual Ladies’ Luncheon at the Black Knight
Inn in Red Deer.
This social event is a great way to connect with others in the community while supporting the programs and services at the Lending Cupboard. For more information
and ticket sales, contact the Black Knight Inn at 403.755.6626.
STAY TUNED
Want to read more about the Lending Cupboard? Be sure to check out the
summer, 2015 edition of “Inside the Cupboard,” which will share some of our
client’s stories.