Speak up for local seniors

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

• If you are 55-plus and a resident of Kitchener, consider joining MACKS (Mayor’s Advisory Council of Kitchener Seniors) — a link between older adults in our community and the mayor and city council, providing a representative voice for members of our older-adult population. Advisory council members attend monthly meetings (from September to June). MACKS invites you to submit a letter of interest and your resumé by Wednesday, Aug. 8, to Carolyn Cormier at the Rockway Centre (1405 King St. E., Kitchener, ON, N2G 2N9 or via email carolyn.cormier@kitchener.ca).

• Spend time with some new friends this summer: hang out for a few hours, swapping stories with seniors and strolling in the sun. Pass the rollers and the compliments in the hair salon, or the coffee and cookies in the café. Play balloon badminton, do no-bake baking and mess with clay. To find out how to join our volunteer team at Parkwood Mennonite Home, contact Laura at 519-747-2151 ext. 335 or lgorman@parkwoodmh.com.

• For-Good Mondays is a new event series hosted by the Volunteer Action Centre, City of Kitchener, and Downtown Kitchener BIA. Every Monday in June, July, and August from 4 to 6 p.m. in Goudies Lane, teens are invited to join us for a volunteer party. Each week focuses on a new organization and cause, includes volunteer activities, games and pizza. Register at volunteerkw.ca/youth; you are welcome to bring teenage friends/siblings as well.

• Be part of the biggest celebration of multiculturalism that Waterloo Region has ever seen: The 51st annual K-W Multicultural Festival on June 23 and 24. Festival volunteers help with things such as setup and takedown, marking chairs and tables, cleaning, giving directions, parking enforcement, and more. Volunteers will receive a free festival T-shirt and a food voucher. Students aged 14-plus are welcome. Please contact kwmfvolunteer@kwmc-on.com.

• Create a healthy and safe community by recruiting volunteers to the Block Parent board of directors and assisting program co-ordinators in recruiting volunteers to their programs. You will maintain an active contact list of volunteers for programs and events, promote volunteerism with Block Parents in the community, and assist committees in planning and implementing volunteer events. One-year commitment; six hours per month, on average. Contact Tara Mondou at contact@blockparents.ca.

• Do you like to fundraise and be involved in raising money for charity? HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre is looking for event volunteers that will help us with seeking sponsorships for our 17th annual Holiday Home Tour 2018 in November, and welcome and interact with attendees of this event which showcases six homes in Waterloo Region decorated for the holidays. For more information, please contact Linda at 519-742-4673 or linda@hopespring.ca.