Volunteer to help inspire tomorrow’s workforce

The following are volunteer opportunities in Kitchener-Waterloo. For more information, call the Volunteer Action Centre in Kitchener at 519-742-8610 or check the website at www.volunteerkw.ca.

• Are you interested in helping youth in Waterloo Region to explore their career options? Share your career story and inspire tomorrow’s workforce. The Business & Education Partnership of Waterloo Region (BEP) is looking for volunteers from all areas of expertise and all sectors to join their Speakers Bureau. Volunteer speakers talk about their career path to help youth understand their career options. The time commitment can be as much or as little as your schedule allows. For more information about the BEP and becoming a volunteer speaker, please visit our website at www.bus-edpartnership.org or email us at info@bus-edpartnership.org.

• Are you a stroke survivor or caregiver? Would you like to share your knowledge with new stroke survivors? March of Dimes Canada’s hospital peer visitors are stroke survivors who visit new stroke survivors within hospital stroke units to provide hope and resources to help new stroke survivors thrive. We are recruiting for Grand River Hospital, Acute Unit, Grand River Hospital Freeport Health Centre, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph and Guelph General Hospital. If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity to help you re-engage that fits your schedule contact us at 519-5795530 ext. 263 or linkingsurvivors@marchof dimes.ca.

• If you are an energetic, handson people person, consider volunteering as an Art Activity Assistant for the March break Art Camp at the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery. Spots are open for a weeklong position or as little as one day. Volunteers will help control art materials, share ideas and encourage creativity in young people. No formal art education is required, however a creative mind and willingness to learn is essential. Police vulnerable sector check will be requested. Training is provided. If you’re interested, please contact Visitor Services and Volunteer Co-ordinator Elena Veldman at eveldman@kwag.on.ca or 519579-5860.

To find a volunteer opportunity that suits you, search United Way’s online volunteer opportunities database at www.uwcambridge.on.ca and click on the Volunteer Centre tab, or call 519-621-1030.

Focus on Volunteering: February 2018 — “I didn’t know I could ...”

What you know, and what you care about, can make a big difference in someone’s life.

No matter if you have just a couple of hours available each week, or all the time in the world, there are numerous opportunities across Cambridge and North Dumfries to put those skills to good work. You will feel good. You might learn a few things. And you will make our community a better place. Are you interested in nonprofit management and administration?

• Are you a people person or, someone interested in social work as a career? The Cambridge Shelter Corporation, the Bridges, is seeking a “dinner socializer” to initiate social contact with guests, play cards, chat and help with food preparation and cleanup.

• Do you have a passion for graphic design? Perhaps you are a graphic design student looking for experience prior to applying for a job or, a professional graphic designer looking for a way to give back to your community? REEP Green Solutions is searching for a volunteer graphic designer to lend their imagination to material and content as well as to influence the layout of marketing and communications materials.

• Do you love working with children? Are you thinking of pursuing a career in Early Childhood Education? Cambridge Idea Exchange is looking for Children’s Program Support volunteers to help inspire creativity and passion in young participants.

• Do you enjoy spending time with seniors? Are you thinking of pursuing a career in which you would work primarily with seniors? Idea Exchange has a visiting library service and is looking for volunteers to bring the world of literature to those who are home bound.

• Interested in fulfilling your high school community involvement requirement? Do you enjoy community and events organizing? Join the Youth Committee at Fiddlesticks Community Centre.

• March of Dimes is looking for volunteers for their stroke survivor peer support program. If you’ve had a stroke, provide peer support, friendship and your knowledge to someone else who is living that same reality.

• Do you pride yourself on being a good friend? Consider signing up to be a Friendly Visitor for Community Support Connections. Friendly Visitors provide supportive friendship to lonely and isolated seniors and disabled adults.

• Are you interested in working with people living with disabilities? The Canadian National Institute for the Blind is seeking volunteers for their Vision Mate Buddies program. This program pairs people who have sight loss with sighted people to provide one-on-one assistance and companionship.

Just think of the experience that you could gain from any one of these volunteer positions. The people you would meet, the network of which you could be a part.

Think of the impact you could have on a child, someone experiencing homelessness, a senior or an organization.

When you look at it that way, why wouldn’t you sign up to make a difference?