Volunteerism is alive and well in the Tri-Cities and an event next Saturday will make it easier for people to find out how to connect with agencies needing help.
Kind of like speed-dating for the volunteer community, Tri-Cities VolunteerFest takes place Oct. 19 at Coquitlam Centre. It will bring 25 agencies together with potential volunteers for a big meet-up that could result in a budding relationship.
At least that's the goal of Community Volunteer Connections executive director Stacy Ashton, who said the annual event is one of the simplest ways to figure out where to lend a hand if you'd like to give back to the community in some way.
"It's really valuablethere are so many different ways to contribute."
For example, if you are interested in helping isolated and frail elders or fundraising for a local cause, there are opportunities to meet agencies seeking help and expertise.
"You know you want to get involved. This is the place to find out how," Ashton said.
Working in volunteerism is one of the best jobs, said Ashton, because she gets to meet people who want to give back and make their community a better place. "I get to see people and their acts of generosity and compassion."
But while volunteerism is on the rise in the Tri-Cities, there are certain groups that do more than others.
For example, recent immigrants to Canada tend to get involved as a way to get to know their new home and meet new people, seniors are avid volunteers because they want to keep busy and contribute and young people are signing up to be volunteers to learn more about the world and gain experiences that will last them a lifetime.
TriCities VolunteerFest from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. is the place to go to find out about volunteering,.
Some of the agencies that will be there include:
Access Youth Outreach Services (aka PoCoMo Youth Services)
Canadian Mental Health Association
Citizen Support Services
Eagle Ridge Hospital
Eagle Ridge Hospital Auxiliary
Friends of Coquitlam Public Library Society
Glen Pine 50 Plus Society
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia
New View Society
Port Coquitlam Royal Purple Lodge #10
SUCCESS
Soroptimist International of the Tri Cities
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver
Tzu Chi Foundation Canada
For more information about Community Volunteer Connections and to check out its data bank of 100 agencies, visit www.volunteerconnections.net
