More than half of Canada’s 161,000 nonprofits and charitable organizations rely solely on volunteers.
Volunteer North Shore (VNS), a database created by North Shore Community Resources, aims to connect the public with organizations that need their help, with a one-stop online shop for volunteer opportunities.
“We think of ourselves as a bridge for not-for-profits and community volunteers. We want to bring them together and support them through this online directory,” VNS’s Jennifer Fitzgerald says.
Volunteering helps to build the kind of community you want to live in. If everyone contributes a little bit of time, together we can accomplish a lot.
VNS helps you figure out what you care about most and what opportunities are available from Deep Cove to Lions Bay.
“The database is super user-friendly. I have been a stay at home mom for so many years, I’m not a big tech person but it’s easy to understand and easy to access,” Fitzgerald says.
Over 100 community not-for-profit and charitable organizations are in the VNS database. VNS also helps youth and newcomers to Canada to connect to new opportunities and skills.
Here are some great reasons to find the perfect volunteering opportunity for you:
Get your volunteer hours
Students must complete 30 hours of volunteer experience to graduate from high school. VNS’s database can help students find an opportunity that fits them and gets them on the path to graduation.
“There’s a youth volunteering section in the database,” Fitzgerald says.
“High school students can see opportunities that are age-group specific to them.”
Pursue your passions
Volunteering is a way to discover what matters most to you.
“People don't necessarily follow their purpose in their careers but they can get close to it when they’re volunteering,” Fitzgerald says.
The volunteer database can be filtered by areas of interest such as animal welfare, seniors, arts and culture, sports and recreation, environment and many more.
Just click on the icons featuring different labels to see all the opportunities related to that category.
Volunteering provides an opportunity to experience different fields and roles. It also helps you build a community outside of school and work.
Flexible opportunities
“You can tailor your volunteering to your availability,” Fitzgerald says.
Volunteer as much or as little as you want. The VNS database allows you to search for the opportunity that fits within your schedule.
From long-term to short-term opportunities, there is a range of volunteer opportunities to pursue.
Contribute to your community
Volunteering is a way to contribute to a strong, connected and resilient community. Volunteers help make the North Shore a better place to live.
“My grandfather always used to quote that we make a living from what we get and we make a life from what we give,” Fitzgerald says.
“He knew the value in helping and stepping out of your comfort zone. Volunteering is a chance to do that.”
Volunteers provide important support to their neighbours and fellow citizens, helping individuals and communities to thrive. In return, they enhance their own health by improving their social networks and gaining new skills and experiences.
