Volunteering: Get The Most From Your Volunteering Experience

Changing Gears understands how vital volunteers are to the health and success of a community. Did you know that there are hundreds of volunteer opportunities available and thousands of individuals needed in many areas of Canada?

Burlington SNAP - February 2007

Volunteering is a very rewarding experience. Why not make it part of your New Year's Resolution to help others by giving of the most important thing you have to offer...your time, all year long! People of all ages, from students to seniors, find that volunteering adds richness and meaning to their lives beyond the monetary. Are your high school students looking to earn more mandatory volunteer hours? Look for fun ways to put their passion and interests into making a difference in the world around them while collecting hours. A perfect example of how this scenario worked beautifully was December’s Be a Santa to a Senior Halton Gift Wrap Event. Rather than wrap gifts, two male students asked if they could share their violin talent with us by entertaining with Christmas carols. What a thrill for us to hear them! How wonderful they felt making a contribution doing what they love.

For those adults thinking about becoming a volunteer, here are some tips for getting the most out of your volunteering experience:

Volunteer for an organization or cause that complements your lifestyle, suits your personality and is of personal interest to you. Ask yourself: What do I hope to achieve from the experience? What skills, experience or talents do I have to share?

If your goal this year is to make volunteering a family tradition, here are a few tips on how to start:

Serve a meal in a homeless shelter.
Sort food at your local Food Bank.
Spend time with seniors who may otherwise be alone.
Participate in charitable events that involve exercise and for a cause that you believe in.

Spending time together while giving back within your community is good for the soul of your family. Whether volunteers are on the front lines directly helping others, on fundraising committees or on boards of directors for non-profit organizations, they are vital to the health and success of a community and to the identity and values of our country.

To learn about hundreds of volunteer opportunities available, visit www.changinggears.ca. Click on the resource directory and look under Community and Volunteering.

Barbara Kennedy
Changing Gears Inc.

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