Clarence DeYoung believes in giving back to his community. What makes Clarence special is he sees the world as his community, and he wants to make it a better place.
For more than a quarter century, Clarence has organized efforts to send essential supplies to various countries in Africa and Asia, while at the same time, working for various causes in his home community of Pomquet, N.S.
“I certainly do enjoy doing volunteer work and I’ve been doing that since 1989, with various organizations. I seem to have the need to give,” says Clarence.
For most of that time, Clarence has been part of a group called Sleeping Children Around the World, which distributes bed kits to children in Asia and Africa.
His latest project started after Clarence and his wife hosted a mature student from Ghana, who had connections to an orphanage, school, and hospital.
“Through those conversations, the seed ended up being planted that, maybe we should think about putting a container together to help the kids in Ghana,” says Clarence.
Family, friends and neighbours help collect and sort donations from around the region.
Tiffany Hallett says her uncle Clarence has always been a role model for helping those in need, whether at home or abroad.
“Our trips always included going to, you know, the food bank and packaging food with him and his wife,” says Tiffany. “So, it’s always been part of our lives, for sure.”
Raymond DeCoste says Clarence’s giving nature is contagious.
“It’s just so meaningful, anything he does. You couldn’t say no to him,” says Raymond.
Congratulations to Clarence DeYoung, our Maritimer of the Week!
If you know someone deserving of our Maritimer of the Week award, we want to hear about it.
It doesn't matter how old they are, the nature of the "good deed" they've done, or what part of the region they live in – we want your ideas!
Please send your nomination to:
maritimer@ctv.ca
or
Maritimer of the Week
P.O. Box 1653
Halifax, N.S.
