A local woman was recognized in August for her contribution to the community. Darlene Johnson Brown was nominated for a Minister’s Senior Service Award for her volunteer work at The Heartland in Okotoks. “It was a real honour to be recognized for something I never expected,” said Johnson Brown. “It’s just so rewarding, just watching people be happy.” She said she enjoys working with seniors and has spent the last 20 years working closely with them in her former home of Grande Prairie and now in Okotoks. Here, she helps with shopping trips to Walmart every Wednesday as well as lending a helping hand for serving meals or running special events. It all started with volunteering in a hospital in Grande Prairie years ago. “That was a lot of seniors, and it just snowballed from there,” said Johnson Brown. “I’ve also volunteered doing kindergarten and working with teens, but I do really enjoy working with seniors. That’s my favourite.” Since retiring from a career in retail management, Johnson Brown was looking for a way to give back to her community and keep herself busy. She found it through her work with senior citizens. “It’s nice to still feel like a contributing member of society too,” she said. And she contributes a lot – upwards of 10 hours per week at The Heartland, depending on what’s happening. She usually goes in two or three times each week. It’s help Glenna Stiles, recreation co-ordinator at The Heartland, said she couldn’t do without. “I see Darlene as an invaluable asset to running really strong, really creative and really well-liked programs for the seniors in our community,” said Stiles. From helping with the shopping trip to attending special outings like a garden tour, Johnson Brown can be counted on to help load the bus and do anything from serve tea to accompany shoppers around the store, she said. She said it’s something she couldn’t do alone, and she’s grateful for a passionate, dependable volunteer. “She’s always just cheery and warm and efficient and organized,” said Stiles. “She knows what to do without ever being asked, she just is so self-motivated and she just cares for seniors so much.” And she’s there year-round, said Stiles. It doesn’t matter whether it’s December and she’s busy with Christmas activities for her own family, Johnson Brown still makes time to visit The Heartland and work there as well, she said. The amount of time put in by Johnson Brown is incredible, she said. “She’s always there for me. You just ask her and she’ll just say, ‘I’d love to do that,’ and everybody knows she’s going to do a great job,” said Stiles. “She never lets me down, ever.” There are a lot of great volunteers at The Heartland, but Johnson Brown stands out because of the amount of time she’s able to give, she said. From playing the piano and the accordion to taking the time to talk to the seniors, she’s always putting smiles on peoples’ faces, she said. “There’s no one who doesn’t love Darlene,” said Stiles. “She’s always here and she just always does it with a glad heart.”
