It isn't surprising that more people on the North Shore tend to be interested in volunteering around the holiday season.
"It's a way of giving without being materialistic," explains Li Boesen, executive director of North Shore Community Resources Society, which is the agency that runs the North Shore Volunteer Centre. She says the increase in interest can be a bit frustrating, though, because agencies need volunteers year-round.
"Of course they need volunteers during the holidays, but we hope that people will really look at their motivations and their skill level and their commitment because the other thing that happens is people commit during the holiday season and then realize they're too busy," says Boesen.
The NSCRS runs a gift-wrapping booth at Capilano Mall each year, with donations going to NSCRS programs, and Boesen says she often gets calls in the middle of December from people interested in volunteering for the booth. But since the booth opens at the end of November, training for volunteers starts at the beginning of November.
"People really need to decide what it is they hope to get out of the volunteering, and they need to plan because the agencies plan in advance too," explains Boesen.
NSCRS interviews hundreds of potential volunteers throughout the year and tries to steer them to organizations with volunteer opportunities that match their preferences.
"Your area volunteer centre is the place to start," says Boesen of those who want to volunteer but aren't sure of what to do, noting that an interviewer at the centre can help potential volunteers decide what they might want to do. Sometimes people want to do something different that what they do or did as a career. "We help them find the best kind of volunteer work for them that's going to be successful."
Volunteering can help people gain a sense of satisfaction and pride and feel needed, says Boesen, adding it's also a way to stay engaged and form a new network of contacts, especially for seniors.
"We have these marvelous volunteers at income tax time that do volunteer income tax services for people who live below an income threshold and for low-income seniors. They get so much out of that," says Boesen, adding it's the only social contact some of the clients have. "Non-profit societies could not exist without volunteers.
We have 106 regular volunteers at our organization and there is a monetary amount that you can attach to that to know what the benefit is to an organization, but non-profit societies they depend upon volunteers."
This year, the NSCRS is also holding a Christmas Carol Jingle Off in conjunction with Capilano Mall for teams from various groups, including schools and businesses.
"It's something I've wanted to do for many years," says Boesen, noting volunteers will be needed to help make it happen. But if Christmas carols don't interest you, there are plenty of other volunteer opportunities on the North Shore to consider during the holidays and all year round. Says Boesen: "It's a way to help your own community and strengthen it."
ROSALIND DUANE, [email protected]
