In all the hustle and bustle of today’s world, time feels like the most precious commodity. The onset of September takes us all on a rapid pace into the next year. Engaging in community is a great way to spend time together with loved ones and find deeper belonging in causes that are important to you!
\n \nThe benefits of volunteering are endless, are great for well-being, and building community. There are many different ways to make volunteering work for you. Volunteering as a family is really about choosing your own adventure!
\nBefore you go to volunteerconnector.org to find opportunities, take a moment to think about and reflect on two main questions for your family unit:
\nWhat type of time and schedule do you have? Is there a regular window of time that you have each week when something would fit in? Or, would something with flexibility work for you?
\nWhat causes do you care about? There are hundreds of organizations in Calgary all doing great work in the community. It’s up to you to decide the causes and organizations that most align with your family values.
\nOnce you have established the answer to those two questions, you can head over to volunteerconnector.org and use the filters around location to find opportunities that might work for your family. There are new opportunities posted every day, so check back regularly or create a profile to get notifications.
\nSome ideas that are out there that we think are pretty fun are:
\nThe Nature Conservancy of Canada hosts wedding events outside the city where volunteers get fresh air and help preserve biodiversity. Frolicking in nature and helping the environment seems like a win for everyone!
\nLong Term Care Facilities exist under various names across the city and many residents of these facilities look for visitors or entertainment to reduce loneliness and increase quality of life. This can be as simple as creating art, making a phone call, or going for a walk in the park.
\nThere are events every week across the city, and many of them rely on volunteers to happen. Those organizations often look for volunteers well before the event, so following them on VolunteerConnector or their social media channels will ensure you get an alert when the call goes out.
\nEvery organization has their own policies and processes when it comes to volunteering. Some might have never even considered having a family unit help support their cause, so open and candid conversations with an organization that interests your family could lead to something awesome. If your family needs a lot of flexibility in how they volunteer, Calgary is home to an awesome organization, H!P (behip.ca), which organizes regular projects with flexibility and family in mind.
\nThere are so many opportunities to engage in building community that do not require being at a certain place or time or formally with any organization. Think about what your little corner of Calgary needs. Is there a little food pantry that you could fill? A free little library that could use a fresh coat of paint? A neighbor that needs help shoveling their driveway when the snow falls? Are there vulnerable people in your community who would appreciate a hot beverage or a bottle of water? Is there a green space that could use some native wildflowers?
\nSometimes, getting to know your neighbors is the best way to engage in your community. Get to know the older adult who just had surgery and could use a couple of grocery items, the family who just had a baby and would appreciate their other child walking home from school with a buddy, or the elderly couple who needs some furniture moved around. There are new people in Calgary daily, and often calls to support those families go out on community social media pages, so following those is another good strategy for finding belonging and engagement in the community.
\nIf you need help finding an opportunity that works for you, do not hesitate to get in touch with
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Sheena believes in the power of creativity and resiliency in building strong communities. With a background in education, Sheena has worked in the non-profit and public sector for over 16 years in various capacities, including community development, people engagement, organization learning, and recreation. She thrives when building relationships that nurture and empower people. Sheena currently works for VolunteerConnector and volunteers for the Columbia Valley Community Foundation, chairing their Community Grants Committee.
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