Thinking of volunteering in 2015, but not sure where or how to start? There are lots of opportunities right here in Southern Georgian Bay.
story by Judy Ross, photography by Kristie & Brenden Woods
Quite simply, it makes me feel good to be able to help people,” says Nancy Franks, a remarkably dedicated volunteer who was recently given the prestigious June Callwood Award for her years of help with Hospice. When she moved to this area in 1986 and was working with Community Care Access, she saw that there was no help for people who were dying. Since then she has put in countless hours as both a fundraiser and a ‘hands-on’ helper with hospice patients. Now, with the opening of Campbell House, a palliative care home in Collingwood, her wish is coming true. “It’s a wonderful feeling,” she adds, “to see a need, work hard toward a goal and then have it become a reality.”
Every single day people like Nancy Franks are making our community a better place to live.
All of us know that what she says is true: volunteering is good for us; it makes us better people. The most recent study on volunteering comes from researchers at the London School of Economics, who examined the relationship between volunteering and happiness in a large group of American adults. They found the more people volunteered, the happier they were.
So why aren’t more of us doing it? In the process of researching this article we spoke to people in our community who want to volunteer, know how important it is, but are not sure where to turn. Many retirees who travel or go south in the winter worry that they’re not here for long enough periods of time. Younger people with jobs and families don’t see where they’d find the time. Others are concerned about finding the right fit, or getting committed to something and not being able to follow through. Some of us just need a nudge.
Volunteers truly are the glue that holds a community together, and many organizations would simply cease to exist if it weren’t for the support of unpaid volunteers.
In the interest of matching up those who’d like to get involved with those who need volunteers, On The Bay took a look at the requirements of 10 local organizations. These are just a few of many volunteer opportunities in our community. There is, it would appear, something for everyone, no matter who you are, what you’re interested in, or how much time you have to give.
COLLINGWOOD GENERAL& MARINE HOSPITAL
According to Sadie Nixon, manager of volunteer services, it takes 350 volunteers to maintain the level of service the hospital provides on an annual basis. Because of this great demand, Nixon says, “I have to be flexible. We’re used to snowbirds and we don’t expect 12 months’ commitment. I take them when I can get them.”
She currently has three programs badly in need of volunteer help:
1. People to help with the patient satisfaction survey programmed on the TV sets in patients’ rooms. Some technical savvy is required for this, but it works well as an icebreaker to having a friendly visit. It takes about two hours anytime during an assigned day.
2. The Emergency Department waiting room needs volunteers to help patients and their families. “The ER can be intimidating,” says Nixon, “so it’s nice to have a kind, caring person there.” All shifts are four hours, either morning or afternoon, on a weekly basis.
3. Volunteers are needed to help long-term care patients get out of their rooms and doing activities in the Activation Room. The time commitment is four hours a day, once a week. “People love this program,” enthuses Nixon, “because they get attached to the patients.”
For more information, or to volunteer for any of the above programs, contact Sadie Nixon at 705-445-2550 ext. 8615 or nixons@cgmh.on.ca
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SOUTH GEORGIAN BAY
Habitat’s credo is, “affordable home ownership is a critical need.” This organization has built nine homes since it began in this area in 2003. Families apply and are then selected to receive a new home, and family members help with the build along with volunteer labour and as much donated or cost-reduced materials as possible.
Opportunities for volunteers include working on the build sites, providing food and drink to volunteers, helping in the ReStore (donated goods and building materials), and being part of the family selection committee.
“We’re excited because we have just purchased a property in Collingwood and are now fundraising with the hope to start building next summer,” says executive director Joy Fleury. “We have a wide variety of jobs for volunteers, and lots of need with our new build in the works.”
A volunteer application can be found online at
www.habitatgeorgianbay.ca, or visit the office at the ReStore
Centre 155 Sandford Fleming Drive. Tel: 705-446-9542.
HOSPICE GEORGIAN TRIANGLE
Hospice is celebrating the recent opening of Campbell House in Collingwood, a six-bedroom palliative care home that has increased Hospice’s ability to help patients at the end of life in our community.
“We have over 200 volunteers,” explains executive director Debbie Kesheshian, “and they provide us with an amazing range of help.”
Training sessions are offered twice a year: a 30-hour fundamental course in the basics of palliative care. But, as Kesheshian adds, “there is also a need for volunteers to help in the kitchen, work at the reception desk, do errands … these jobs are a good way to get a feel for what we do and decide if you’re ready to train.”
The biggest need is for “companioning at home.” There are only six beds at Campbell House, and most people want to die at home. Volunteers visit the home in order to give the caregivers a break.
A volunteer application can be downloaded from the website at www.hospicegeorgiantriangle.com, or contact Debbie Kesheshian at 705-444-2555.
BEAVER VALLEY OUTREACH
This not-for-profit community-based organization has been providing programs and services for people in the Blue Mountains since 1983.
“Our volunteers are so inspiring,” enthuses Melri Wright, the volunteer coordinator who works with over 200 volunteers. Help is needed to run the Treasure Shop (donated goods and clothing) on Bruce Street in Thornbury, and to keep a variety of services running.
Many of the programs are for children, including early morning programs where a hot breakfast is cooked and served in the school.
A volunteer resource kit is available on the website, www.bvo.ca. Anyone interested can drop into the office or call Melri Wright 519-599-2577, ext 27.
HOME FOR LIFE
This cooperative community project was set up in December 2012 as a way to help seniors to stay in their own homes.
“We focus on seniors in the South Georgian Bay area,” says interim program manager Anne Marie Underhill, “but not all of our clients are seniors; some just need help managing at home on their own.” Volunteers are carefully screened and trained before going into clients’ homes to help with light housekeeping, pick up groceries, or just have a friendly visit. A growing need is for volunteers who can give tech support, including setting up Skype, helping to program smart phones or computers, etc. A flexible schedule allows volunteers to give as little or as much time as they want.
To find out more, visit the office at 275 First St., Unit 13-14. Email: info@homeforlifesgb.com. Tel: 705-444-0040.
MY FRIEND’S HOUSE
This women’s shelter in Collingwood provides a refuge for women escaping domestic abuse.
“Our requirements for volunteers are a little different,” explains board member Alyson Butler. “For privacy reasons we can’t have volunteers working at the shelter. We have to protect the women and children.”
That said, Butler is quick to point out that volunteers are needed to help with various third-party fundraising events like Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, the ladies golf event at Oslerbrook, and the 6 Hours of Gibraltar bike relay.
“I keep a pool of volunteers who are willing to be worker bees at these events,” says Butler.
To find out more, go to www.myfriendshouse.ca or contact Alyson Butler directly at 705-444-5870.
RAY’S PLACE
The Mission Statement of Ray’s Place in Creemore is “to encourage youth to stay in school until they have received a license, diploma or degree.” To achieve this, Ray’s Place runs a variety of programs including “Rent a Youth,” which links local youth with part-time work available locally.
Volunteers check out facilities or homes before the kids are sent there. Ray’s Place also has volunteer tutors (teachers) to help with school work, and runs workshops for kids and parents on subjects such as handling finances.
“We are entirely a volunteer organization, with no paid staff.” says Tony Fry, founder and volunteer, who started the organization (with the late Jim Vandewater) as a way to stop the local kids from scrawling graffiti on local buildings. (It worked; the kids had something else to do).
Fry suggests that anyone interested could call anytime … or just come by between 3 and 5 p.m. on Friday afternoons when boys and girls aged 8 – 12 drop in for board games and activities.
For more information, go to www.raysplaceyrc.com or call Tony Fry at 705-466-3663. Ray’s Place is located on Caroline Street in Creemore, behind Cardboard Castles.
BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS OF THE GEORGIAN TRIANGLE
The message from executive director Jarvis Strong is, “We love to tell you about all our programs, so come on in and say hello.”
BBBS currently has about 100 volunteers including the board of directors, and the organization is always looking for more help. Volunteers are needed for one-on-one programs like In-School Mentoring and Homework Clubs, as well as various group activities.
Traditionally the concept of Big Brother, Big Sister was to match an adult with a child for a long-term, steady, positive relationship. “We have more girls matched than boys, and many boys on a waiting list, so we have a new program to get more men interested in what we do.”
This ‘new’ Boys Club is an after-school program held in Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Clearview and Meaford. Volunteers work alongside a staff member and other male volunteers doing activities with boys aged 9 to 12. The commitment could be as little as one-and-a-half hours, once a month. “Of course more time would be fantastic,” says Strong, adding, “We literally have something for everyone, no matter how much time you have to give.”
To find out more, go to www.bigbrothersbigsistersgeorgiantriangle.org, call 705-445-2330, or stop into the office at 129 Hurontario st. (above Robinson’s Paint).
THE GEORGIAN TRIANGLE HUMANE SOCIETY
This much-needed resource relies entirely on volunteer support to run the animal shelter at 549 10th line in Collingwood, and the Treasure Tails used goods shop on Hurontario Street. “We hold orientation programs twice a month for anyone considering helping us,” says shelter manager Sonya Reichel.
The five main requirements are dog care and walking, cat care, reception, working at the Treasure Tails store, and help with events, marketing and fundraising.
The Humane Society can accommodate any kind of schedule – for instance, dog walking is just a drop-in, once-a-week commitment. “And there’s a social component – our volunteers really get involved and become part of a team,” says Reichel, “with coffee-breaks and goodies.”
For more information, go to www.gths.ca or call Sonya Reichel at 705-445-5204, ext. 225.
ELEPHANT THOUGHTS
This educational outreach operation, which opened in Collingwood in 2002, relies on volunteers from age 14 to 85. The mandate is to “make sure every child in Canada and across the world receives an exceptional, inspired education despite the geographic and economic barriers they face.”
Volunteers run the Elephant Thoughts educational store and help with workshops and fun events. “We also need volunteers to help with office administration and fundraising,” says director general Tara Bailey, “and we can customize a volunteer program just for you.” She adds Elephant Thoughts is a good place to get kids interested in volunteering, doing things like taking care of the animals in the store after school.
Visit the store at 10138 Hwy 26 (across from Hyundai), call 705-444-2012, or check out the website at www.elephantthoughts.com.
Charity does begin at home, as the old adage states. And here in Southern Georgian Bay we have countless opportunities to play a part in the giving spirit of our community.
Many organizations need help with fundraising efforts, while others need people to play more of a ‘hands-on’ role. Wherever, or however, you may choose to offer up time and energy, you will be warmly welcomed. As Jarvis Strong, executive director of Big Brothers, Big Sisters expresses it: “It’s wonderful to see volunteers making a connection. I watch them being tentative at first. Then they make a connection with a particular child. And then, for sure, they’ll want to continue as a volunteer.” ❧
