In Melvin Boutilier’s office, one of the most valuable tools is a box of Kleenex-brand tissues.

Boutilier, 78, is a Seventh-day Adventist Church member in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and the driving force—most days, he’s up at 5 a.m., he says, occasionally “sleeping in” an extra 15 minutes—behind the Parker Street Food Bank and Furniture Bank.

The local charity is a project of the Halifax Seventh-day Adventist Church and has fed thousands and helped countless others with furniture, job training and free computers for children who need to do homework. Some of those individuals end up weeping during their meetings with Boutilier, so the tissues come in handy.

On April 27, Boutilier received Canada’s top award for volunteer service in a ceremony held in Ottawa, Ontario, that nation’s capital. Lynne Yelich, Parliamentary Secretary to Canada’s Minister of Human Resources and Social Development honored Boutilier and Marlene Bryenton of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, as recipients of the 2006 Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award.

For more than 45 years, Boutilier has volunteered to help make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged adults and children in his community. In 1983 he founded what has become the Parker Street Food Bank and Furniture Bank, an organization to help provide both food and furniture to low-income families. In partnership with Nova Scotia Community College, he established a Skills Development Training Center and a Youth-at-Risk Employability program.

Among his many achievements, Boutilier has created other programs such as a crisis emergency fund for people who do not qualify for social assistance. He organized and operated an Adventist Pathfinder club in the St. Margaret’s Bay area to give teens an opportunity for positive lifestyle development.

That level of involvement came after years of Ingathering, an annual community service fundraising project, Boutilier told Adventist News Network in a telephone interview.

He recalled, “We were going around ... and people would say, ‘what are you doing in the community?’ I’d mumble something about we’re making an effort, but then we’d be gone and people wouldn’t see us until next year.”

Boutilier brought his complaints to the Halifax church, where there was an unusual response: “By me complaining about that, the nominating committee said, ‘let’s make him the Community Services leader,’” he said.

That responsibility led to the creation of the food bank, which grew from a small garage to a large warehouse. When one family in need asked about getting a mattress to put on the floor for their children, that led into the creation of a “furniture bank” where donated items can be used by others.

Over the years, Boutilier and his fellow volunteers have expanded the project into several buildings. A fire severely damaged one warehouse that had been donated to the group by a member of its advisory board. During the building’s restoration came the inspiration to build classrooms where office skills are now taught. A workshop is used to repair computers that students in need can get to do their assignments; so far more than 400 have been given away.

Active at an age when many are retired, Boutilier told ANN his motivation comes from a desire to serve others.

“I just have a desire to help people. It feels good,” he said. “In every community, in every city, there are people who are hurting because they can not afford the necessities of life.”

Both Bryenton and Boutilier have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to volunteering and have contributed to improving the quality of life in their communities, Yelich said.

“They inspire us and make us proud,” Yelich noted. “Ms. Bryenton’s and Mr. Boutilier’s participation and determination to improve the quality of life of others reflect their commitment to building a strong Canada. They serve as role models to all Canadians.”

Both recipients received a bronze medallion bearing the likeness of Thérèse Casgrain, a lapel pin and a certificate of recognition. In addition, a registered Canadian voluntary organization of their choice will receive a $5,000 grant. Boutilier said his grant would go to the food bank.

“It’s hard work, and sometimes a little discouraging, but when something like this happens, it’s good to know that someone is noticing,” he said.

The Halifax church, which has been supportive of his efforts, has also received a benefit: prayer meetings at the food bank have brought some people into the Adventist Church as members. The prayer meetings, and now weekly worship services, are totally optional for clients of the food bank, but many beneficiaries say they appreciate the spiritual dimension offered, Boutilier said.

Each year, Human Resources and Social Development Canada presents the Thérèse Casgrain Volunteer Award to one man and one woman who have contributed significantly to the advancement of a social cause and to the well-being of their fellow citizens.

The award commemorates the work of Thérèse Casgrain, the force behind various social reforms promoting justice and equality. The award was instituted in 2001, 20 years after Casgrain died. It is one of Canada’s premiere honors, and is illustrated on the reverse of that country’s $50 bill.

There are more than 55,000 Seventh-day Adventists in Canada, worshipping and serving their communities in 334 congregations across the country.

—Social Development Canada supplied some of the background information used in this article.