Working With Volunteers
Volunteers can help in many ways, including:
- reading your mail to you
- helping you complete forms
- assisting with grocery shopping
- joining you for a walk.
Working with a volunteer is a partnership. You receive help meeting your goals and your volunteer gains a new and rewarding experience. You teach and learn from each other. Acknowledging the assistance that volunteers provide is important.
Ways you can help your volunteer:
- Be prepared. If you’re going shopping, have a list ready. It will make the experience pleasant and efficient for both of you.
- Collect and organize the mail and other material you want to have read.
- Show appreciation. A thank you card is one option. Honouring National Volunteer week is another. It runs from April 27 to May 3 in 2008.
Finding a volunteer
The Volunteer Coordinator at BALANCE provides help with finding volunteers, but the process can take some time. You can take an active part by:
- asking your local church, mosque, synagogue, or temple to refer you to people who are interested in volunteering
- letting the people in your social networks know you are looking for a volunteer
- suggesting community resources to those who are helping you look, especially if you feel hesitant about making the contact yourself.
Volunteer Coordinator
David Kopman
Phone: (416) 236-1796 Extension 30
email: d.kopman@balancefba.org