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Category: Volunteering

  • Volunteering around the December Holidays

    Volunteering around the December Holidays

    During the December holidays, it is best to spend time with the ones you love. It’s surely one of the best times of the year! With all the delicious meals, thoughtful gifts, and time with loved ones, the holidays can be a splendid time for most.

    However, not everyone has an easy time. People right here in our own neighbourhoods sometimes don’t have enough to feed their families or give presents to their children.

    The holidays are a good time to reflect on our blessings. If you’ve never put yourself in someone else’s shoes, the holidays are a good time to do so. In December, it isn’t just the time for getting, it’s also the time to give back. What better way to give back than to volunteer your time?

    Why Should I Volunteer?

    Volunteering is wonderful for a lot of reasons. First and foremost, you’re helping out someone who needs it. Think of how far your gesture goes for families in need. Providing help to seniors, wrapping gifts, and helping at kitchens are all simple ways you can better someone’s life.

    Secondly, volunteering helps spread happiness. Take a moment and think about families in need. Parents might feel guilty that they can’t buy as many presents for their children. Some families may worry about basic necessities like keeping the heat on. When you help out, even with something small, you can enrich their holidays.

    Volunteering can also present you as a leader to others. After all, friends and family are more likely to volunteer if they see you doing it! You don’t need to force them into volunteering If they don’t want to. But seeing you do it may encourage them to help out others.

    When you donate your time, you also open the door to new friendships. Volunteering is a great way to meet new, likeminded people. Even if you only see them during the holidays, it’s always nice to see a friendly face when you’re out and about.

    How Do I Find Volunteer Opportunities?

    If you’re unsure where to look for volunteer opportunities, that’s okay. You can easily Google opportunities in your city or neighbourhood. If you’re a member of a community (like a church or club) you can easily check bulletin boards for options available throughout the holidays.

    Depending on where you’d like to volunteer, there may be certain requirements. You may need to provide references or go for small interviews to let people know why you’re interested. Most of the time, though, you’re more than welcome to volunteer without any hassle.

    Wrapping Up

    If you’ve never volunteered before, think about it this holiday season. You rarely need to spend more than an hour or so and you’ll be doing a great thing for someone in need. You may also meet new friends or appreciate more of what you have. Plus, if you get your family and friends involved, you’ll be able to spend more time together with loved ones.

  • Top 10 Reasons to Volunteer

    Top 10 Reasons to Volunteer

    Thinking of becoming a volunteer? Here are 10 good reasons to do so!

    #10: It’s good for you.

    Volunteering provides physical and mental rewards.

    • It reduces stress: Experts report that when you focus on someone other than yourself, it interrupts usual tension-producing patterns.
    • It makes you healthier: Moods and emotions, like optimism, joy, and control over one’s fate, strengthen the immune system.

    #9: It saves resources.

    Volunteering provides valuable community services so more money can be spent on local improvements.

    • The estimated value of a volunteer’s time is $27.00 per hour as of 2017.

    #8: Volunteers gain professional experience.

    You can test out a career.

    #7: It brings people together.

    As a volunteer you assist in:

    • Uniting people from diverse backgrounds to work toward a common goal.
    • Building camaraderie and teamwork.

    #6: It promotes personal growth and self esteem.

    Understanding community needs helps foster empathy and self-efficacy.

    #5: Volunteering strengthens your community.

    As a volunteer you help:

    • Support families (daycare and eldercare)
    • Improve schools (tutoring, literacy)
    • Support youth (mentoring and after-school programs)
    • Beautify the community (beach and park cleanups)

    #4: You learn a lot.

    Volunteers learn about things like:

    • Self: Volunteers discover hidden talents that may change your view on your self-worth.
    • Government: Through working with local non-profit agencies, volunteers learn about the functions and operation of our government.
    • Community: Volunteers gain knowledge of local resources available to solve community needs.

    #3: You get a chance to give back.

    People like to support community resources that they use themselves or that benefit people they care about.

    #2: Volunteering encourages civic responsibility.

    Community service and volunteerism are an investment in our community and the people who live in it.

    #1: You make a difference.

    Every person counts!

  • Where to Find Volunteer Opportunities, Part 2

    Where to Find Volunteer Opportunities, Part 2

    In part 1 of this article series, I gave three common places where high school students may volunteer and fulfill the mandatory 40 hours of community service they need in order to earn their diploma. Their high school, local hospitals and nursing homes, and non-profit organizations they admire were the three. In part 2, I suggest three different other ways to find volunteer opportunities.

    The Volunteer Toronto website

    Volunteer Toronto is an amazing organization with a more than 40 years-long history of connecting those who want to volunteer and those who want volunteers. Their website has a search page (http://www.volunteertoronto.ca/networking/opening_search.asp) that allows you to really narrow down the options to exactly what you are looking for. Despite the presence of Toronto in the name, you can specify a country, a city, an organization, length of desired placement, as well as various categories such as “suitable for groups,” “wheelchair accessible,” and “fundraising.” If you really don’t know where to start your volunteer search, I highly recommend trying out the Volunteer Toronto search page. Adjust your criteria as needed if you end up with too many or too few volunteer opportunities.

    The GoVolunteer website

    GoVolunteer.ca is another established online tool that you can use. Its scope is narrower than Volunteer Toronto, because the opportunities it lists are only for non-profit organizations in British Columbia and Alberta. Their search page (http://www.govolunteer.ca/volunteer-opportunities) asks for your city or postal code, which will allow you to sort search results by distance to your location. Moreover, you are presented with a long list of charity categories, including indigenous services, youth development, environment and animals, disability services, and women’s services, and you may select any or all of them in your search. There are more advanced search options than the Volunteer Toronto website: for example, you may indicate your desired time of day, position type, and volunteer skills. Again, if you need to, adjust your search criteria to ensure you get a good number of options, not too many, not too few.

    The Volunteer Canada website

    Established in 1977, Volunteer Canada is yet another established organization that supports and facilities volunteering. What sets it apart from the above two is that Volunteer Canada works not only with volunteers and non-profit organizations, it works with businesses, governments, and educational institutions. Another thing that sets is apart is that instead of giving you a search page, Volunteer Canada has put together a Volunteer Quiz! It has questions like, “When friends sell tickets to a fundraiser, which cause are you likely to support?” to which you can choose one of six responses, including “A youth suicide prevention hotline,” and “Medical research for a disease that has touched your life.” At the end of the quiz, you are given some statements about you and your volunteer matches. This quiz is ideal for any student who wants an inventive way of finding opportunities and to learn something about yourself along the way.

    By now, you have probably figured out what these three online resources have in common. These websites are ideal for any student who does not know where to start their search. By giving you multiple search categories and lists of options, you not only get a clear idea of what kind of opportunities are available but you can also tailor your search to your specific wants and needs. I think any one is sufficient for your needs, but between the three of them, I am certain you will find the perfect volunteer placement for you!

    References:

    1. https://www.ontario.ca/page/volunteering-ontario
    2. http://www.volunteertoronto.ca/page/AboutUs
    3. http://www.volunteertoronto.ca/networking/opening_search.asp
    4. http://www.govolunteer.ca/about-us
    5. http://www.govolunteer.ca/volunteer-opportunities
    6. https://volunteer.ca/about
    7. https://volunteer.ca/volunteer
    8. https://volunteer.ca/quiz/english/questions.html
  • Getting the Most out of Volunteering

    Getting the Most out of Volunteering

    At a younger age, volunteering can have some major benefits. If you have approached a teacher, guidance counselor, a parent, or a volunteer organization seeking different ways to volunteer, you’re not the only one. More and more young people are finding ways to connect with others through volunteer work and it can be very rewarding. If you want to get the most out of volunteering, just take a spin through some of the benefits:

    #1 – It’s Actually a Lot of Fun

    Most young people who volunteer end up enjoying the people they work with and also achieve a sense of satisfaction from it all. For example, volunteering at a hospital can be a fun way to get to know an entire group of people that you wouldn’t otherwise come into contact with. Coaching a sport or helping out as a referee can be a fun way to develop leadership skills. Volunteering at events also gets you into that event for free. So all in all, not bad!

    #2 – The People you Meet Can actually Turn out to be Very Special

    Volunteering for young people gives you the chance to connect with people in a different way. To these people, you’re not just a student or a young person. You’re there to help. That’s a different dynamic. Students who volunteer often form strong relationships with the people they meet. Volunteering at a children’s centre, a homeless shelter, or even being a youth representative on a committee of some kind all puts you in front of different people. When you get to know them, friendship comes quickly.

    #3 – It Gets you out of your Comfort Zone

    Try something new. If you are scared about getting up in front of people or are looking to be a little more confident in yourself, volunteering puts you in the position to do that. Especially if it’s volunteering around something you genuinely enjoy, getting you to open up a bit in a role that you’ve never had to be in before can be challenging but fun.

    #4 – Make a Difference in People’s Lives

    Not only are you getting benefits out of helping in a volunteer role but one of the most powerful things that many young people feel from volunteering is knowing that they’ve made a difference. Just think about it. Every day, you’re putting a little more positivity and love into the world that was not there before. No matter where or to whom you’re volunteering, you’re helping people in your community and that’s not something that everybody does. At the end of your term as a volunteer, that’s something to really be proud of.

    Try Volunteering

    It can be intimidating trying to find the right volunteer opportunity for you. Speak with your parents about the kind of volunteer work you are looking for and get them to help you find an organization who needs the help. Sometimes, your school might also have different volunteer positions open for students to apply for.

  • How to Get Your 40 Hours of Community Service

    How to Get Your 40 Hours of Community Service

    At first, getting your 40 hours of community service might seem like a chore. But over the course of 4 years, 40 hours might just be achieved from your everyday life: helping siblings at their sports practices, participating in school events, helping out your neighbours, or even just by working with your parents. If you portion it out over the course of your entire high school career, this shouldn’t be a challenge. Even if you put it off until your last year, getting 40 hours shouldn’t be too hard. There are always places looking for volunteers, and some of them can actually be a lot of fun.

    Animal Shelters

    Animal shelters take in stray or lost dogs from the community and take care of them until a more suitable home is found. Oftentimes, this includes rescuing dogs from the street or even unfit homes. If you love animals, this is the perfect way to get your hours in. Animal shelters are always looking for volunteers, as they are typically non-profit. Take a look around your community for any local animal shelters or rescues and see if they need help. Chances are, they do. Working at an animal shelter is a great way to give back to your community and help out some animals at the same time.

    Homeless Shelters

    Homeless shelters provide a safe haven for the less fortunate on our streets. These shelters often open up their doors every day and offer a hot meal to those that may be unable to get one otherwise. Another great way to help out your community is by volunteering at homeless shelters or soup kitchens. These places are almost always looking for volunteers. Also, these places are likely to give longer shifts, meaning that you can finish your hours in a shorter period of time.

    Check Online

    There are plenty of resources online to help you get your 40 hours. If you are in Ontario, check out “Youthconnect.ca”. It is a government website that lists all sorts of other websites and opportunities that are available to students in Ontario. Each province should have a similar website that lists what sort of volunteerism is available in the area.

    Help Out Your School

    Another easy way to get your hours is to simply volunteer at your school. Helping out events or teachers is an easy and sure-fire way to pick up some hours. Especially if your school has lots of clubs and events, you could use this method to get all 40 hours. Ask your teacher and principals if there is anything you can do to get some volunteer hours – chances are, they’ll help you.

    Getting your 40 hours can be a chore, but only if you put it off until the last minute. If you take a little bit of time, you should be able to get those 40 hours no problem.

  • Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service- UPDATED!

    Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service- UPDATED!

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    There are so many ways you can get your 40 hours of community service completed. Besides volunteer centres, you may be able to find other alternative ways to get your mandatory service hours.

    If you are living in Ontario, check out these guidelines listed on the Ministry of Education website:

    http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/124a.html

    These guidelines will let you know what is considered acceptable and not acceptable volunteer activities. If you don’t live in Ontario, visit your provincial government website’s high-school volunteer guidelines.

    An excellent search resource for students looking to complete their hours is charityvillage.com . This website allows you to search for volunteer listings all over Canada. It is easy to access and will give you a choice of many different volunteering opportunities.

    Another great, easy, searchable resource for finding volunteer opportunities is volunteermatch.org . This website will let you search opportunities all over Canada, as well. It is easy to navigate and allows you to search by category or what you are passionate about.

    What Volunteering Can Do for You

    Volunteering can turn into a life-long habit. If you are passionate about helping others or a specific cause, it may follow you throughout your life. You can learn a lot about yourself, your community, and others. Even though it is a requirement in high-school, it doesn’t have to stop there. Your interests might change over time, but you can always go back to how you felt while volunteering in high-school. Do not see volunteering as a chore- see it as a chance for you to walk in someone else’s shoes.

    Tip: Whatever you do, don’t leave volunteering to the last minute. If you do, you may not be able to get your diploma-you don’t want that to happen!

    Tip: You don’t want to be grunting and groaning through your volunteer experience- you want to enjoy it. Remember to research and take up opportunities that you will like and have fun doing.

    Tip: Mix it up! You don’t have to pick only one type of volunteer opportunity. It may be in your best interest to do some hours at one organization and finish the rest with another.

    Revised by Erin Lynne Bouman

  • Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service

    Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    Many volunteer centres are independent non-profit organizations, while others are part of a United Way, Social Planning Council, Community Information and Referral Centre or municipal services. Though diverse in many ways, they share the following common functions:

    • Promote volunteering
    • Build the capacity of organizations to engage volunteers
    • Facilitate connections between people with volunteer opportunities
    • Provide leadership on issues related to volunteering and citizen engagement

    If you want to volunteer, your local volunteer centre is there to connect you to opportunities in your community. It may have a database of volunteer opportunities or can connect you directly to opportunities within its member organizations.

  • The Benefits of Volunteering

    The Benefits of Volunteering

    When it comes to our busy schedules, most people can’t even find the time to squeeze in a meal let alone find the time to volunteer. And much like the difficulties associated with deciding between which clubs to join in school it’s difficult to know which organization or charity to volunteer with. But, even if finding the time to volunteer seems daunting, there are plenty of places to volunteer and the benefits gained are something that could very potentially add to your life for the better.

    When I was in high school, getting in my community service hours seemed more like a chore than anything else. I remember volunteering with my friend at her church and going to help serve food to the homeless in the winter. I felt like I needed to be there because I was pretty much forced into getting my hours in order to score my diploma. I’m not sure how it was with other high school students but that was definitely not the attitude to have walking into volunteer work.

    Then university hit. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do but in my third year I decided to become a volunteer note-taker for any students who were associated with the Accessibility Centre. It never once felt like a chore because I had decided on my own terms to do it. I knew that I was being relied on, which made me feel good, and I also knew that I was making a difference for the students who wanted to work with me. This feeling of helping and knowing I was making a difference eventually blossomed into me furthering my volunteer experience to becoming a study partner. Before she graduated, one of the women I was helping told me that I was the most wonderful, and dedicated person she had ever worked with. It was an incredible feeling and at the end of the year I knew that I had made a new friend. I was also even granted a certificate upon completing a year of volunteer work.

    Volunteer work has lots to offer you. Not only will you make several connections with people but you’ll also be able to add something to your resume; the great feeling that comes with helping people benefits them but also you. You need to make sure that you do it for you though and not just because you have to, otherwise it’ll feel like work. There are lots of places you can go to volunteer, though some do require a commitment from you, which is another reason why you need to make sure you want to do it. But you have tons of options for where to volunteer. And by volunteering at one place, you open the door to more facilities and charities you can work with as well as enriching your experience in the workforce and in life.

  • Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service

    Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    Many volunteer centres are independent non-profit organizations, while others are part of a United Way, Social Planning Council, Community Information and Referral Centre or municipal services. Though diverse in many ways, they share the following common functions:

    • Promote volunteering
    • Build the capacity of organizations to engage volunteers
    • Facilitate connections between people with volunteer opportunities
    • Provide leadership on issues related to volunteering and citizen engagement

    If you want to volunteer, your local volunteer centre is there to connect you to opportunities in your community. It may have a database of volunteer opportunities or can connect you directly to opportunities within its member organizations.

  • 3 Surefire Tips for Smart Volunteering

    3 Surefire Tips for Smart Volunteering

    These days, if you wish to get your foot in the door of prestigious colleges and universities and high-profile companies, you need more than a remarkably written application letter and a well-rounded personality to seal the deal and get ahead of the competition. You need to make yourself stand out from the rest of the crop. One good way to do that is to include your volunteer experience in your applications, and more often than not, doing so is an effective way to grab the deans’ or prospective employers’ attention.

    However, if you want to volunteer, always remember that it’s about the people or organization you lend a hand to—not about you. So while it’s good to know that volunteering is adding a feather to your cap, don’t forget to have your heart and mind in the right place. Below are tips for smart volunteering.

    Do an extensive research.

    A wide range of volunteer opportunities exist, but to come up with a substantial list, prepare to do an extensive research. Look in your local papers, community or church newsletters, and websites like Volunteer.ca and Cadip.org. Don’t underestimate other sources, however. Your family, friends, and neighbours may also have good recommendations.

    Find a cause that you are passionate about.

    Once you’ve done your research, chances are, you will have a long list of options, and it can be overwhelming to narrow down your choices, but don’t draw names out of a hat! It all boils down to knowing what issues or causes you care about.

    For example, if you are passionate about animal companions, offer to help shelters in your community. If you feel strongly about environmental causes, submit your volunteer applications to the organizations that promote awareness of environmental issues through tree-planting activities, park or beach clean-ups, recycling campaigns, and the like. If you have a soft spot for the senior members in your community, join organizations that provide meals and transportation for the elderly. Volunteering for organizations with beliefs that are in line with your own means you are likely to give your all, and that is the most important thing.

    Plan your schedule.

    You can volunteer for as many organizations as you like, but remember not to overstretch yourself. Volunteering can be an exciting experience, especially when you begin to see the fruits of your efforts, such as forming friendships with the people you help out and receiving words of appreciation from them, but do not overcommit. The last thing you want is to renege on your promise to help out. As such, if organizations are planning for a big event, such as a pet adoption day at the neighbourhood park, double-check your schedule before you specify a volunteer shift. Remember that volunteer heads have a lot on their plate, and if you agree to a date or time that your schedule don’t really allow, the heads would be forced to move schedules around and rethink their plans as well.

    Take note of the three tips above, and you will be on your way to make volunteering a worthwhile learning experience. After all, it’s a chance to give back to your community. That’s a worthy enough reason to do things right. Good luck!