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assx2fcsisj-r- n jzjc jw for m v-sr- many people work selflessly to maketdifference in thelivesofybrk region residents teenager doesnt blow her own horn bhat tutors students helps a blind student walk home by patrick mangion staff writer ost people would consider a steady diet of television video games or just hang ing out to be normal if not healthy for the average teenager but such is not the case for 17-year- old shashi bhat of richmond i iill her commitment to volunteering in her- community and at richmond hill high school are as impressive as her many accomplishments so early in life it goes beyond hours bhat responded when asked how much time shededicates to volunteering every spare moment i have is devoted to help ing out the more things i do the more ambition i have however balancing her work with the nonprofit kannada sangha canadian east indian community asso ciation her school a writing hobby and love of music there isnt much left in the way of free time but bhat says its difficult to think of the volunteering as work because its something she enjoys i dorft do these tilings just to put them on my resume rather helping others is a tradition that runs deep in her family r volunteering wasnt a sudden real- izatiorij iny dad has always been giving toothers j s it all started with kannada sangha an organization bhat has been involved of her time chipping in to help make the learning environment more fun and more interesting v bhat recently developed a website for the music council sings in three choirs and plays flute and piano her love of music initiated a bond with teacher tim henry head of the schools music department over the past four years last month henry recommended bhat for the ontario medal for young volunteers shashi is very intelligent said henry shes low key and quiet she has all these attributes but does nt go around shouting about it she qui etly sees that everything gets done its like that saying still waters run deep at school bhat also helps a blind stu dent walk home tutors younger stu dents and- edits for several school newsletters as well as for the yearbook- some of bhats other volunteer accomplishments include organizing drives for the food bank raising more than 2000 for the hospital for sick children working on a quilt project for a temple in markham and volunteering with the public symphony orchestra in cambridge massachusetts last sum mer vqluriteernote helping youth bill stowe has been volunteering neariyhalf his t life it all started back in 1976 when heseryed as an assistant coach on a hockey team for the blind in scarborough from there a bevy of volunteer initiatives ensued stowes volunteering has touched newmarkets youth in particular r with since she was just three years old today bhat works with recent imrni- grant children helping them bridge the culturalapin canada while ensuring whether it was cubs girls softball bowling or their heritage is not lost lending a hand at schools stowes generosity at kannada sangha a- nonprofit organization bhat assists children aged threeto fiyelearniskills such aslan- guagedeyelopment also meeting with the groiip regularlyto help organize per- much of bhat a majority with his time has no doubt left its mark on the community driving for seniors for years bev hollmgsworth of aurora has been volunteering as a canvasser with the cancer soci- ety and the heart and stroke foundation she has also taken time as a driver for chats and is a a friend to many seniors in tier community ensure everyone is buckled up for safety this message brought to you as a community service of the economist suntribune yas vr f i gtiu j ivvjt0vv