This Week is National Volunteer Week!

Thank You.

Canadians have a long and inspiring history of volunteering and community involvement. With 12.5 million people across Canada dedicating their time, volunteers are creating positive change on many fronts – community health care, sports and recreation, heritage and arts, environmental protection and advocacy, disaster relief, and international development – the list is endless. The work of volunteers is essential to maintaining resilient communities at home and around the world (volunteer.ca)

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the students, teachers and staff members at SMUS who have volunteered their time this year! As a community, we have been involved in countless local initiatives such as helping the Mustard Seed Food Bank, the Special Olympics, the Extreme Outreach Society, various senior care homes, elementary schools, and hospitals. We are active on the global front as well. We have been on trips across the world to help build schools and spend time with children at an orphanage. We have raised funds for groups such as Free the Children and War Child Canada.  We are a strong and generous group of people who have made an enormous impact on our community and the world.

Keep. It. Going.


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Swiftsure International Yacht Race is looking for Volunteers

The Swiftsure International Yacht Race has a need for volunteers at Victoria’s Ship Point on Thursday May 26th, Friday May 27th, and Saturday May 28, 2011. The shifts are from 12 noon – 4:00 pm and from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm. They need 2 people per shift.

Duties:
-Customer Service and Coffee Service
-Red Barn Market will oversee volunteers’ activities

Volunteer Requirements:
-Personable and comfortable dealing with the public
-No Cash Handling, Food Safe certification would be welcomed but not required
-A Swiftsure Volunteer t-shirt will be provided
-Provide own transportation, wear comfortable, warm clothing

What volunteers may gain from this experience:
-Exposure to a fun and sometimes fast-paced, outdoor working environment
-Insight into the size & scope of the Swiftsure International Yacht Race
-Participation in an exciting and energized annual event, part of Victoria’s maritime history since 1930, with it’s roots in the 1850′s

How to apply:
Go to Swiftsure Volunteer website: http://www.swiftsure.org/volunteer/becoming-a-volunteer , complete the personal details page, continue into the document and select “Support Services” then send a brief email to the Swiftsure Volunteer Coordinator ( csgann@telus.net ) that you are interested in the Customer Service position with Red Barn Market. You will be contacted to identify a suitable schedule.

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Gorge Road Hospital – Special Events Volunteer

The Gorge Road Hospital is looking for a long-term volunteer to assist the Recreation Therapy staff to host special events and parties. They need someone who is available 1:45 pm to 3:15 pm Tuesday or Wednesday. This is a chance to get experience on a hospital unit and to use your positive energy to make someone’s day!

For more information contact Kathy Nies at 250-370-8407, or email kathleen.nies@viha.ca

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Wild About Whales Derby Event Volunteers – Saturday, June 18th, 2011

The Boys and Girls Club of Victoria is looking for volunteers to assist with this fun, family event on June 18th at Esquimalt Gorge Park (1:30 – 4:30 pm).

The event is a fun filled day: Participants adopt a whale and then watch it race along the Gorge Waterway to the finish line for a chance to win some fantastic prizes. Then there is a BBQ and other family oriented activities and games at the park including a bouncy castle, tug of war, and three legged races. They need help with all aspects of the day.

The following roles are available:

  • Whale counters and markers (April 28th)
  • Ticket sellers/Event promoters (April 29th/30th)
  • Event Assistants (June 18th) – including set up and tear down, volunteer registration and ticket sales
  • Children Activities Assistants (June 18th)
  • Race Assistants (June 18th) – Volunteers with paddling experience also needed
  • VIP Event and Live Auction Assistants (June 18th)

Please contact Sarah Hancock at shancock@bgcvic.org or call her at 250-384-9133, extension 215 for more information or to apply for a position.

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YMCA-YWCA Children’s Program Volunteers needed

The YMCA-YWCA is looking for volunteers to help with their children’s programs. The volunteer in this position will assist staff during programs, set up and take down equipment and will monitor program spaces for safety. The volunteer in this position will help to create and maintain a welcoming, friendly, and respectful environment for the participants.

The Children’s Program Volunteer will be based at the Downtown YMCA-YWCA facility, and should be available on Saturdays between 9:45am – 2:15pm for a 2-3hr shift. The successful candidate for this position will work as a part of a staff/volunteer team.

Responsibilities:
• To monitor the program areas while creating a safe, welcoming and friendly atmosphere.
• To maintain attendance statistics.
• To lead age appropriate games/activities as necessary.
• To ensure excellent customer services is provided.
• To maintain and develop relationships with members, participants, staff and other volunteers within the YMCA-YWCA.

Qualifications:
• Experience in leading activities for children ages 3 to 9 years.
• Reliable and dependable.
• Clear Criminal Reference Check with vulnerable sector screening is required.
• Standard First Aid and CPR-C is required.
• Experience in dance or gymnastics is preferred.

Applications available online (click here) or on their website www.victoriay.com

Please forward applications to:
Recreation and Sports Coordinator
Downtown Branch
851 Broughton Street
Victoria, BC V8W 1E5
Fax: (250) 380-1933
Email: syates@victoriay.com

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Saanich Neighbourhood Place

The Saanich Neighbourhood Place (located at Pearkes Recreation Centre) requires volunteers to take care of their Playroom and Clothing exchange, maintaining general tidiness at specific program times. One of two times are available: either Wednesday from 4:30 – 6:30pm,  or Saturday from 9:00 am – 11:00 am.

Saanich Neighbourhood Place is a family resource centre that was established in 1993. The programs and services they offer reflect their belief that everyone deserves a safe, respectful and supportive environment in which to develop and grow. They work with other community agencies to promote and support the well-being of families and individuals.

Contact Corinne Bains for more information at marycorinne.bains@gmail.com

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Coalition Connect for Families on April 30, 2011

The Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness is hosting an event called Coalition Connect For Families on Saturday, April 30th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Families will be able to access haircuts, acupuncture, medical and dental consultations and more. Each will receive a gift bag of necessities that many of us take for granted: toothbrushes, toothpaste, diapers, baby wipes, shampoo and more.

They are looking for volunteers to help out with various tasks:

MEET AND GREET involves:
·    welcoming people to the event;
·    letting them know the services available and where to find them;
·    circulating to talk (e.g., chatting with folks waiting in line for a service) and answering questions.

SERVICE PROVIDER ASSISTANCE involves:
·    checking with service providers frequently to see if they need help with anything;
·    managing the flow of people waiting for information/help (this could mean keeping a waitlist);
·    running errands for service providers;
·    covering a table if the service provider needs to take a break.

SURVEY COMPLETION involves:
·    completing brief voluntary surveys with participants, volunteers, and service providers to help with future event planning.

FOOD SERVICE involves:
·    keeping the food service area tidy;
·    keeping an eye on condiments to make sure they’re not running out;
·    helping out as requested by those preparing lunch.

DISTRIBUTION OF FAMILY PACKS involves:
·    giving Family Packs to those passing through in line;
·    helping people select non-generic items to add to their packs;
·    recording family group size to gather information on attendance  (by asking people the number in their family group).

PARKING:
Parking is very limited at the Native Friendship Centre.  Assistance will be need to direct people to appropriate parking locations.  This task will be rotated among volunteers at hourly intervals.

CHILDCARE:
People will be needed to watch the children while their parents are enjoying some of the services, like getting their hair cut!

There will be two Volunteer shifts:  8:00am – 12:00pm, and 12:00pm – 4:00pm.

Please contact Deborah Nilsen at dnilsen@shaw.ca for more information or to sign up.

Posted in At-Risk/Marginalized, Community, One-time Event, Poverty, Youth/Children | Leave a comment

Plant Sale at UVic Needs Volunteers May 1, 2011!

The Friends of Finnerty Gardens at the University of Victoria are having their annual plant sale on Sunday, May 1 in the main gym at the University.

They are looking for assistance from 6-8 people during the day. From 9:15 am to 12:45 pm they need helpers to tally the total purchases for customers (while they wait for cashiers) and from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm for general clean up, which involves moving plants.

They are an all volunteer organization and profits go to help maintain Finnerty Gardens. Please contact Shirley Lyon at slyon@uvic.ca if you are interested in helping!

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Out of the Closet Renew Boutique

Out of the Closet Renew Boutique is looking for some new people to join their amazing team of volunteers. Out of the Closet Renew Boutique is a new fantastic high quality thrift store in downtown Victoria operated by Out of the Closet Queer Sustainability Society. They are a new provincial non-profit organization formed in 2010 and their Mission is “we are committed to promoting queer visibility, culture and community and building allies with those who are also dedicated to redressing societal inequities.”

They need:

Sales Floor Volunteers: Greeting and helping customers, using a cash register and interac machine, helping to keep the sales floor organized and clean, assisting with putting out stock.  Experience is welcome but not required.

Processing Volunteers: sorting donations, hanging, steaming, and tagging clothing, cleaning non clothing items like breakables, pricing donations.  Experience is welcome but not required.

If you have at least two hours a week or biweekly to share, they would love to have you involved. The spots they are currently looking to fill are: 

Mondays between noon and 5:00pm
Tuesdays from noon to 2:00pm or 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Wednesdays from 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm
Thursdays from 10:00 am to noon
Saturdays between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm

They are open seven days a week from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm so if these spots aren’t ideal, they can likely find a time that will work for you.

If you are interested, contact Jordan at  out.of.the.closet.volunteering@gmail.com for an application form, or come and talk to Mrs. Parker in the Service office.

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Easter Tea Party at the James Bay Care Centre, April 24th, 2011

The James Bay Care Centre is looking for volunteers to help with their annual Easter Tea. It will take place on Sunday April 24th from 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm. If you are interested, please contact Doug at the Care Centre ASAP to let him know you would like to volunteer. You can email him at Doug.Elkey@reveraliving.com

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