Teenage moms are often too busy overcoming their own challenges to help others.
But 18-year-old Melissa Walls - the proud mother of two-year-old Ryleigh - is not only earning her high school diploma at the Pope Francis Centre, she is helping other young mothers to do the same. And at the same time, she volunteers to prepare food for people in need.
Walls was one of the first six Welland-area recipients of the provincial government’s Leading Women, Leading Girls Building Communities awards, presented by Welland MPP Cindy Forster during a reception at Holy Trinity Anglican Church.
Other recipients included 17-year-old Vritti Patel, Niagara Peninsula Homes executive director Betty Ann Baker, Canada Revenue Agency volunteer Huguette Brauweiler, Alzheimer Society of Niagara advocate Karen Gillespie, and Bridgette Ridley from Niagara Catholic District School Board.
“It makes me feel proud about myself,” Walls said after receiving her award. “I don’t really try to help people, I just feel we should all be kind to each other and care about each other, and help in the community to make everybody stronger.”
Although she never thought she was doing anything special while working to help others, she said receiving the recognition last Friday was a proud moment for her.
Patel’s award was in recognition of the work she’s done as a Grade 11 student at Eastdale Secondary School, as well as throughout her community.
Patel, who plans to eventually pursue a career as an optometrist, finished her required 40 hours of community service within the first three months of her high school education. And she hasn’t slowed down since.
“I like volunteering. I do it because I love to do it,” she said.
It’s the first time Forster has been able to present the awards in Welland, and all six local nominees were selected as recipients of 400 awards given out across the province to women and girls who have made a difference in their respective communities.
“The response this year from the community was wonderful,” Forster said.
In addition to the awards, each of the recipients also received a certificate from Welland MP Malcolm Allen recognizing their achievements.
Forster’s constituency assistant Mike Haines presented the awards, while providing a description of the work each of the recipients has done.
He said Baker has worked relentlessly when it comes to community service in Niagara.
“She has done just about everything you can think of to help others,” he said.
As a Canada Revenue Agency, Brauweiler has completed thousands of income tax returns for low income residents, Haines said. In one year alone, she completed 600 tax returns.
He said Gillespie has spent the past few years caring for her husband Jack after he was diagnosed with the disease, while working to raise awareness about the disease as well as funding for the Alzheimer society.
And Ridley has worked throughout her career at the school board, assisting marginalized elementary and secondary students to help them succeed, Haines said.
allan.benner@sunmedia.ca