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16 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday April 21, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com National Volunteer Week April 15 - 21, 2007 VOLUNTEERSGROWCOMMUNITY National Volunteer Week 101 National Volunteer Week is a special time set aside in April to honour the people who donate their time and energy to their fellow citizens. It is also meant to raise awareness of the vital contribution volunteers make to our communities and to the identity and values of our country. How it all started... National Volunteer Week was first proclaimed in 1943 in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. Women's Voluntary Services organized special events to draw the public's attention to the vital contribution women made to the war effort on the home front. In the late 1960s, the idea of a designated week to honour volunteers was revived, and the focus was broadened to include all community volunteers. With Local Volunteer Centre taking the lead, this special week grew in importance during the 1970s and 1980s. Objective of Volunteer Week: 1. To raise the awareness about the vital contribution volunteers have made and continue to make to Canadian communities and to society as a whole. 2. To Thank and honour Volunteers past and present across Canada. Each community takes time during this week to honour volunteers. from www.volunteerhalton.ca Interesting facts... · Canada has the 2nd largest voluntary sector in the world - 6.5 million volunteers · 161,000 charitable, nonprofit and voluntary organizations in Canada · Represent revenues of $112 billion · Volunteers give 2 billion hours = to 1 million full time jobs · In 1997 (the last full data available) the GDP of the voluntary sector was 6.9 per cent or $57.5 billion. Adding the Volunteer Contribution value to it increases it to 8.6% or $71.5 Billion. This makes the voluntary sector: · 4 times the size of agriculture · 2 times the size of mining and oil · 11 times the size of the motor vehicle manufacturing · Employee support of volunteering seems to be on the upswing. In 2000, 27 per cent employed volunteers said their employers let them modify their work hours in order to volunteer, and 22 per cent received recognition from their employer for their volunteer work. Corporations continue to support the not for profit sector, through monetary and gift in kind donations. · Youth volunteering is on the increase. Volunteering is now accepted as work experience on resumes and is a requirement for a high school diploma. · In Halton with a population of 375,229 there are approximately 298,235 volunteers over the age of 15. This number is based on the population census of 2001. from www.volunteerhalton.ca How to become a Volunteer? Contact Volunteer Halton 905-878-0955 www.volunteerhalton.ca Understading volunteering What is volunteering? Volunteering is the most fundamental act of citizenship and philanthropy in our society. It is offering time, energy and skills of one's own free will. It is an extension of being a good neighbour, transforming a collection of houses into a community, as people become involved in the improvement of their surroundings and choose to help others. By caring and contributing to change, volunteers decrease suffering and disparity, while they gain skills, self-esteem, and change their lives. People work to improve the lives of their neighbours and, in return, enhance their own. Why do people volunteer? Some have chosen to become involved so they can provide a needed service, solve a problem or advance a worthy cause; others look for personal development. Many volunteer for both altruistic and personal reasons. People make contacts, learn skills, gain work experience, build self-esteem, improve their health, sometimes finding paying jobs and sometimes turn their lives around through volunteer work. They don't work for money; they work for less tangible but equally important forms of remuneration such as satisfaction, appreciation and the opportunity to build skills. Volunteers are seeking increasingly meaningful responsibilities and interesting tasks, and the community must find ways to meet their needs. from www.volunteer.ca NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK April 15 - 21, 2007. Volunteers Make a Difference! To the Volunteers of Oakville Thank You for Your Vital Contribution which Makes our Community Strong. Fareshare Food Bank 1240 Speers Rd., Unit #6 Oakville, L6L 2X4 (905) 847-3988 Run entirely by volunteers, we have been helping Oakville's needy families since 1988. To all our dedicated volunteers, a sincere VOLUNTEER HALTON A PROGRAM OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HALTON www.volunteerhalton.ca A Big Thank You to all Kerr Street u Ministries (KSM) supporters, onsite and offsite volunteers, churches, schools, organizations, and the community at large who support KSM programming, including the food bank, youth programs, drop-in center, summer day camp program, after school computer lab and internet cafe. You make KSM happen. THANK YOU. To quote an unknown author: "The reason volunteers are not paid is not because they are worthless but rather because they are priceless" 905-632-1975 Thank-you HOST FAMILIES NEEDED! Thank You to all Past Host Family Volunteers Red Leaf Student Program needs families in Oakville to host a Student from Spain or France in July and August. Students attend classes and activities Monday to Friday. $644 for 4 weeks is paid to offset costs. 484 Kerr Street Oakville 905-845-7485 www.kerrstreet.com For more information call Veronica at 905-637-0879