A retired teacher whose volunteer work has touched people throughout CK and around the world is the recipient of the Chatham-Kent Senior of the Year award.
Josephine Richardson was announced as the winner during Wednesday's live broadcast of the 2022 Chatham-Kent Celebration of Older Adults.
According to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Richardson was selected from more than a dozen nominees.
Since retiring from teaching and home daycare, Richardson has been a member of the Chatham Kent Quilter’s Guild and has made quilts for the police and fire departments to be given to those suffering from accidents or unsafe situations.
In addition, she makes quilts for those with cancer or other illnesses, and as a weekly volunteer with Canadian Food for Children, she has made and donated 410 quilts that have been sent to Africa, South America and Ukraine.
Through Canadian Food for Children Richardson also works with a program making sanitary pads for young women in Africa, as without them, they are not able to attend school during their menstrual cycle. She has personally made 36,000 pads herself and has taught others who have made an additional 12,000 pads.
According to the municipality, Richardson is also well known around her neighbourhood for shovelling people’s driveways, dropping off baked goods or stopping in for a visit with a senior.
“It’s just what I do every day,” Richardson said.
The Chatham-Kent Celebration of Older Adults ceremony can be viewed on the Municipality of Chatham-Kent's Facebook page and YouTube Channel.
More than 1,000 citizens have been honoured since the awards began in Blenheim over 30 years ago.
