VM Blog

• Welcome Harvey Yu to the VM Team!

  October 6, 2020

  Posted by: Kamillah El-Giadaa

  Volunteer Manitoba's team grew a bit bigger this past month. We would like to welcome Harvey Yu! Harvey is from the University of Manitoba. He is currently studying Recreation Management and Community Development and will be working with Volunteer Manitoba to complete his fieldwork placement. Harvey will be with us until the end of December where he will be working on Volunteer Manitoba's Community Outreach, specifically with the VM Youth Program.

  Most of September Harvey has been working closely with Kamillah El-Giadaa, our Youth Program Coordinator, to help youth find places to volunteer this Fall. Volunteering provides an opportunity for all of us to learn more about ourselves and our community. For students and young adults, volunteering can also help you learn about different career paths that may interest you, finding your passion and can help you develop useful skills. So we asked our Harvey Yu, what are his top 5 reasons to volunteer!

  1. Build and Develop Community Ties

  • Whether you are new to a community, or have lived there your whole life, volunteering engages you with new people from all age groups of which you can learn and share your experiences with.

  2. Give Back to the Community

  • Whether you know it or not, volunteers help drive the community through fundraising and helping at school events, this is your opportunity to reciprocate that same effort for others.

  3. Be a Part of Change in the Community

  • From environmental sustainability to poverty related issues, you can be a part of the solution by volunteering your time to help these causes.

  4. Learn New Skills

  • Both social and career driven skills can be learned through volunteering, widening your social circle, interacting with others, and being hands on.

  5. Gain New & Insightful Experiences

  • Volunteering will give you opportunities to listen to people's stories and give you a chance to opening yourself up to new perspectives and experiences.

  Got a question for Harvey? Want to find out where you can volunteer next? Email Harvey at Harvey@volunteermanitoba.ca !

  

• VM Youth Hub Final Report - your input is needed!

  July 7, 2020

  Posted by: Kamillah El-Giadaa

  VM Youth Hub Final Report - your input is needed!
  
  Last September, Volunteer Manitoba hosted the VM Youth Hub - a special event on youth engagement in Manitoba. Over 90 organizations and groups came together to discuss their youth programs. The event was an opportunity for organizations to learn, network and share resources to allow for better collaboration across the province. The data that was collected is being reviewed and will be included in a final report on youth programming in the province.
  
  The purpose of this final report on youth programming is to locate pressing challenges and gaps impacting the quality of service distribution in the youth sector. As an organization currently working with youth, we need your input to help us identify this information for the final report.
  
  Please take a few minutes (approx. 5 -10) and complete our survey before July 31, 2020. Everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a draw for a free, full-day Volunteer Manitoba workshop (valued at $145)
  
  Click here to start the survey!
  
  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact
  
  Qudus Abusaleh
  Research Assistant
  E: qudus@volunteermanitoba.ca

• Volunteering during a Public Health Crisis

  March 24, 2020

  Posted by: Dawn Bourbonnais

  Volunteer engagement, within the context of a public health crisis, raises many questions as organizations assess the evolving risks and needs in our communities. From healthcare centres to long-term care homes, shelters to food banks, Manitoba's non-profits and charities are on the frontlines supporting and serving communities during this unpredictable and tumultuous time of COVID-19.

  We also know this is a challenging time in terms of managing our human resources - staff and volunteers, and ensuring critical services are still offered to those who need them. During a state of emergency, there is an increase in both need and demand, and for many of us volunteering is a way we can contribute and help during this pandemic.

  Volunteer Manitoba works with hundreds of non-profits, charities, special events and community groups across Manitoba to support and assist with recruitment, retention and recognition of volunteers. To help you identify where to volunteer your time, and how to keep yourself, your community and organizations safe, we have pulled together 3 options for Manitobans to get involved and give their time.

  #1 - Volunteer Programs

  A volunteer program is an important extension of every non-profit organization, charity, and healthcare centre because volunteers are intrinsic to the ongoing delivery of programs and services in our communities.

  Volunteer programs have dedicated staff who manage, supervise and support the volunteer team as they work together to achieve the organization's mandate. Volunteer Programs follow the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement, and utilize the Screening Handbook, to ensure that people's skills are matched to the work being done, that the quality and safety of programs and services are maintained and improved (where needed), and that the risks and liabilities for people and organizations are reduced.

  Many volunteer programs in Manitoba have suspended all activities for the time being. We recommend reaching out to the organization directly to learn if they require support at this time.

  We will continue to support our non-profit and community partners who are reliant on volunteers to deliver services and needs to the communities they serve. We will highlight any urgent need for volunteer support during the COVID-19 pandemic on our website and via our social media platforms.

  You can also contact us directly for a list of organizations currently needing volunteer support - email kamillah.elgiadaa@volunteermanitoba.ca for more information.

  #2 Community-Led Volunteering

  Community-Led volunteering is a grassroots effort, where people within a community come together to serve a cause or address a need. Communities will often come together to fundraise for a cause, celebrate a milestone, or if there is a state-of-emergency that requires everyone to get involved.

  Community-Led volunteers still follow a process, and a reporting structure is in place, but the process for achieving the shared goal may be less formal than in a volunteer program.

  To learn more about community-led volunteering in your region, we recommend connecting with your local municipality.

  #3 Informal Volunteering

  Most informal volunteering is reciprocal, when people take turns helping each other in a way that is not coordinated by an organization. It's a very common way for people to help out, and over 80% of the population does it.

  What does it look like? Informal volunteering is helping your neighbours, friends, family members and people you may know and trust. It happens in neighbourhoods, through faith-based activities, and in social groups.

  If you want to help out informally, please connect with your neighbours, friends and family via email, telephone or leave a note on their mailbox or door step.

  • Do not show up at someone's house unannounced. People may be anxious about making face-to-face contact right now, particularly if they have a medical condition, live alone, or are considered vulnerable.
  • Make arrangements that are mutually convenient, not just on your own schedule.

  If someone asks you to do something you cannot (or should not do), let them know that you cannot help. Suggest they contact us at info@volunteermanitoba.ca and we can help refer them to a volunteer program that may be able to help, or a non-profit service provider they can access.

  Remember to Stay Safe!

  Before you offer your time, please ask yourself "Am I well enough to volunteer?" and "Have I been in contact with someone who is unwell?" Your safety and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is the priority. If you are unwell or you have been in contact with someone who is unwell, DO NOT VOLUNTEER.

  Volunteer Manitoba shares the recommendations of the chief provincial public health officer and encourages all Manitobans to engage in good social distancing protocols, including practicing following the 3P's - protect yourself, protect your loved ones and protect your community. For more information visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19.

• Our Plan and Available Supports during the COVID-19 Pandemic

  March 19, 2020

  Posted by: Dawn Bourbonnais

  As the COVID-19 situation evolves, we will continue to monitor and respond according to the direction of the Province of Manitoba and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Our top priority remains the safety of our program and event participants, staff and community members. We remain committed to taking appropriate precautions to provide a safe environment that does not put anyone at undue risk.

  Staff Support

  As a precautionary measure Volunteer Manitoba has decided to close our offices until further notice, effective March 17th, at 4:30 pm. All staff will be working remotely and our team will continue to deliver prompt service and communications for our community, program participants, partners and funders.

  Please stay in touch with us via email rather than by phone. You can find email addresses for all of our staff on the Staff Page of our website.

  Volunteer Program Support

  • We are deferring judgment for all volunteer needs and projects listed on our website to our Non-Profit and Community partners and their ability to stay open and support the community and their volunteers.
  • We will continue to support our Non-Profit and Community partners who are reliant on volunteers to deliver services and needs to the communities they serve. We will highlight any urgent need for volunteer support during the COVID-19 pandemic on our website and via our social media platforms.
  • If you are an organization who wishes to find volunteers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please contact Kamillah El-Giadaa, Youth Program Coordinator, via email at kamillah.elgiadaa@volunteermanitoba.ca

  Volunteer Referrals

  If you are interested in volunteering during this time, or you are researching the volunteer opportunities listed on our website, we ask that you observe the guidelines and precautions as recommended by the Province of Manitoba and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

  We also recommend reaching out to the organization directly to learn if they require support at this time. There are many organizations who have closed during the pandemic in order to help flatten the curve of the virus.

  Other Ways to Help

  Think and act locally! Being a good neighbour is another way to volunteer in your community. There are many ways to help informally such as checking on your neighbours, especially anyone who may live alone, anyone elderly or potentially vulnerable. Contact them safely (example, through a phone call, online messaging or drop a note into their door) to let them know that you are available and can assist with their basic needs.

  Some practical ways to help your community, most especially the elderly and the vulnerable, include:

  • Basic grocery shopping
  • Take the trash out on scheduled trash day
  • Offer to walk pets for your neighbours
  • Donate items to your local shelter and/or food bank
  • Offer to connect via phone or email to keep people from feeling too isolated and lonely

  Remember, little acts of kindness can go a long way and have long-lasting impact on your community. Reaching out makes a difference.

  ---

  If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact Dawn Bourbonnais, Manager of Communications and Outreach at dawn.bourbonnais@volunteermanitoba.ca

• Volunteer Manitoba's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

  March 13, 2020

  Posted by: Dawn Bourbonnais

  Winnipeg - As a precautionary measure Volunteer Manitoba has decided to close our offices for the remainder of the month, effective March 17th, at 4:30 pm. All staff will be working remotely until further notice and our team will continue to deliver prompt service and communications for our community, program participants, partners and funders.

  We encourage you to stay in touch with us via email rather than by phone. You can find email addresses for all of our staff on the Staff Page of our website.

  As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, we will monitor and respond according to the direction of the Province of Manitoba and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Our primary concern is the health and safety of our program and event attendees, partners, staff and community, and we are committed to taking appropriate precautions to provide a safe environment that does not put anyone at undue risk.

  Please note the following;

  • The Annual Volunteer Awards Dinner is now scheduled for November 18th, 2020. Visit this section of our website for more information.
  • VM's in-class training has been rescheduled; visit the Training Calendar for more information and to register for the new dates!
  • We are also offering a series of free webinars to help support non-profits and volunteer programs in Manitoba during this time. More information can be found on our COVID-19 Resources page.
  • If your non-profit, charity or group is looking for volunteers or assistance during this time, please reach out to us. We will also be sharing supports and resources for volunteer managers and volunteer programs on our website as information becomes available.
  • We have pulled together a list of resources specific to the coronavirus pandemic, which can be found here.

  By closing down all in-person programs, and rescheduling our special events and training, we hope to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19. Please refer to the links below where up-to-date information and advice may be found.

  • Province of Manitoba
  • Public Health Agency of Canada

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  For inquiries, please contact:

  Dawn Bourbonnais
  Manager, Communications & Outreach
  E: dawn.bourbonnais@volunteermanitoba.ca

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