Employee Volunteer Program Makes Local Impact 2025

Dauphin Co-op is a strong supporter of our communities. We value the time our Team Members devote to volunteering in the community and offer the Employee Volunteer Program where an employee may request that Dauphin Co-op matches the first $500 in pledges collected for a fundraising event or have a donation made on their behalf.

Every quarter, Team Members who volunteer are entered into a draw and one is chosen to donate $500 to a local charity or not-for-profit organization of their choice.

In 2025, the following employees had $500 donations made to the charity of their choice: 

Courtney Seitter, Grocery department, believes no-one should go hungry. "I chose this organization because it serves more than 200 hot meals to schools twice a week so no child goes hungry." The Coldest Night of the Year in Dauphin benefits The Dauphin Friendship Centre's Food for Thought Program. A total of $1,750 was raised including the $500 donation.

Courtney Seitter, Grocery department, volunteers for a variety of Co-op events as well as in the community. She has chose the Parkland Humane Society Inc. to make a donation for the Q1 draw. " I chose this organization because they do so much for animal welfare."

Tara Higgins, Admin department, loves that the Parkland Humane Society gives animals a second chance. "They do so much with having to pay for vet bills if the animals get sick or arrive sick, spay, neuters, and all the food they go through. I feel that they need a lot of support to keep going." Tara volunteers when she can and her daughter helps out as well. Tara chose this organization for the Q2 donation of $500.

Ken Sawicki, Produce department, is a devoted volunteer at the Parkland Humane Society, loves animals and believes they deserve our care. Ken and his wife Pam devote thousands of hours each year at the shelter to help keep it running and being there for our furry friends that need a helping hand. Ken chose this organization for the Q3 Employee Volunteer donation of $500.

Mark Gorchynski, Grocery department, saw a need for more support and awareness for men's health. He and Matt Pugh, Grocery department, partnered with the Dauphin Fire Department to collect pledges for the Dauphin Hospital Foundation to establish a Men's Health Initiative Fund to provide local support for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. "The vision is to establish a locally-focussed fund for men’s health initiatives, provide additional supports for men’s health and treatment, increase awareness, reduce stigma and create a sustainable fund that helps men locally in their health journey,” said Mark. We were please to match our employee's efforts to collect pledges of $307. (Absent from photo: Mark)

Justin Barsewsky, Admin department, wanted to make a difference for Manitoba families to assist with vision related causes. When the Lions Club of Dauphin celebrated 40 years of raising funds for the Journey for Sight, Justin joined the ride and we were happy to match the first $500 of pledges he collected through our Employee Volunteer program. Dauphin Co-op has a strong history of supporting the local Lions Club as a Fuel Sponsor each year.