Alina was born and raised in Poland, where she worked various jobs in administrative, accounting and seamstress roles prior to retirement. She came to Canada in 1991 to visit and help one of her daughters who had young children at the time. In 1997, she proudly become a Canadian Citizen.
Alina began actively volunteering in 2009 when her family introduced her to CIWA. Over the years, Alina was involved in various special events, such as collaborations with different youth and seniors’ programs. She performed at events and workshops with her dance group, supported fundraising campaigns, assisted with special short-term projects, and much more. Currently, Alina is involved with two of CIWA’s three weekly arts and crafts groups where she sews, knits, and designs cards.
Alina enjoys knitting flowers and other small items, as well as using her keen eye for detail to create beautiful cards. She finds great satisfaction in knowing that the items she makes will bring a smile and joy to their future recipients. In addition, she enjoys teaching different techniques to other volunteers who are new to the group(s).
Alina is a dedicated volunteer who consistently brings her best each week, rarely allowing anything to stand in her way. Over the years, she has inspired and mentored many volunteers and staff, becoming a good friend to countless individuals. Alina is steadfast, creative, meticulous, and focused in her volunteer work.
She finds that volunteering provides her with a sense of purpose and is something she looks forward to each week. Alina greatly enjoys the diversity of the volunteers she meets and values the opportunity to socialize and learn from others. She has made many lifelong friends and has maintained contact with several former volunteers over the years. The joy she has in volunteering overflows and is noticed by everyone involved in the groups.
CIWA staff praise Alina for her extreme dedication and commitment. She can always be counted on to be present and she always brings her very best. She is a great encouragement to many other volunteers and CIWA staff over the years. Her excellence, integrity, and creativity are an inspiration to many.
In her spare time, Alina enjoys gardening, crafting, spending time outdoors and meeting new people.
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