Volunteer Roundup: Ottawa’s latest volunteer opportunities

This is the first ‘long weekend’ of summer 2013.  There are more long weekends to come, and more volunteer opportunities. Find yours at Volunteer Ottawa, a member of the United Way.  Call us at 613-736-5270 or look us up on the web www.volunteerottawa.ca

Summer meals: Meals on Wheels is looking for volunteer drivers, servers and cyclists to help with the delivery of meals over the summer months. Meals are delivered by car on many routes across the city and by bicycle on some routes in the Centretown area. Volunteers deliver nutritious meals to individuals to assist them in maintaining their health and independence at home. These volunteers work in teams consisting of a driver and a server – an ideal situation for a parent and student seeking volunteer hours. Students volunteering independently must be over 18 years of age. Please call Terry Moxness at 613-233-2424 if you are interested in being a summer volunteer.

An Historic House:  The Dickinson House in Manotick was built in 1867 by Moss Kent Dickinson; the founder of Manotick. It was one of the earliest houses in Manotick and served the community over time as more than a family residence. The mandate of the museum is to present heritage exhibits focusing on the role of the Dickinson family played in helping to shape the economic and social development of Manotick from 1870 to 1930. The primary role that our volunteers play is to greet visitors and describe to them the history of the home and its former residents. Volunteers wear period costumes and range in age from young adults to seniors. Bilingualism is an asset but not required. All training will be provided.  Contact Barb Barkley dickinsonhousemuseum@gmail.com

Like Bocce Ball:  An adult volunteer is required every Wednesday evening from 5-9 P.M. to meet one of our residents who has a physical disability at the Rehab Centre on Smythe Road to assist him in playing his weekly (regularly scheduled) Bocce Ball game. The volunteer must have a current Police Records Check for the Vulnerable Sector (completed within the past six months) and be willing and able to attend an interview and orientation at our agency. They will enable our resident to fulfill his goal of playing weekly Bocce Ball. Would you like to gain knowledge and understanding of adults with physical disabilities? You’ll also gain experience helping someone who uses a dynavox to communicate. Contact Linda Swalsky 613-744-3562 ext. 204 or  linda.swalsky@ofp.ca.

Variety of Opportunities:  Carleton Lodge is a Long Term Care Home located on the Rideau where Prince of Wales meets Woodroffe Avenue, an ideal location if you live in Manotick, Barrhaven or Nepean South. Can you spare an hour or two a week? If so, you can make such a difference.  How? Visit with residents, read to them, play cards or scrabble or just chat; take a resident out to explore our lovely gardens; join our team of amateur manicurists; provide friendship and support at mealtimes; or simply help out at our various events and activities. Please email Mary.Zion@Ottawa.ca.

Tour La Nuit:  The Kidney Foundation is in need of sixty volunteers to help out at the Capital Velofest’s Tour La Nuit, a Saturday evening family cycling event on June 1st. Volunteers are required to staff barricades along Queen Elizabeth Drive and to cheer on participants. Total volunteer time is 7 hours. Ideal for high school students looking for volunteer hours or volunteers who like to work as a group!   For more information please contact Bruce Hill at 613-299-4801 or by e-mail at bhill@kidney.on.ca

Fun in the sun! Come Join the Aga Khan Foundation Canada For A day of fun to help fight Global Poverty! They are hosting a World Partnership Walk on June 2nd, 2013 at Major’s Hill Park. Volunteers are needed for the following activities: Route Marshalls (On the Walk Route), Guide walkers along the 5.0 km walk route and monitor crowd control. Volunteers are also required to provide water to the walkers as they pass your station, cheer and motivate the walkers to continue along their journey. Volunteers will get a free shirt / water bottle and food coupon. Contact Azra Jiwa ajiwa22@yahoo.com

Volunteer Roundup: Ottawa’s latest volunteer opportunities

May is here, and so is the nice weather…why not get out and get involved to enjoy it within your community? There is always a need for volunteers in a variety of positions and Volunteer Ottawa features if not all, but most of them. Please visit www.volunteerottawa.ca today!

Help make this the best one yet! The annual Tim Horton’s Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival is holding its 20^th event this year and they are in need of many different volunteers: alternates, beer garden, set-up/take-down, bike park, boat driver, children’s area, docks and staging, hospitality, beach bar, info and greeter, photography-videography, pledge tent, silent auction, site maintenance, green team, operations, VIP tent, site safety and security, welcoming committee, team services and volunteer services. It’s all happening at Mooney’s Bay from June 17-23. Please contact Anne Pickering volunteer@dragonboat.net or 613-238-7711 x222. You can also visit www.dragonboat.net.

Touch-A-Truck:  Enjoy this weather and volunteer outdoors! Touch-A-Truck is a fun-filled event with loads of trucks and emergency vehicles for children to climb on and explore.  Touch-A-Truck will take place at the Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre on Sunday June 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Many volunteer positions are available: face painters, arts and craft area, cashiers, set up crew, cleanup crew, survey collection, runners, sales, etc. A pizza lunch is served to all volunteers that attend! Come dressed for the weather.  Please contact Linda Read at trucks@mothercraft.com<mailto:trucks@mothercraft.com> or 613-728-1839 x500.

On the Board and On the Web:  The Classic Theatre Festival is a high-calibre professional summer theatre company in Perth, Ontario It is run as a charitable non-profit organization and employs some of Canada’s top theatre professionals. They want to upgrade and improve the design and functionality of its website (www.classictheatre.ca) and are looking for a volunteer web designer with skill and imagination who would enjoy being part of a dynamic and highly creative organization. Great for a recent graduate of a web design program looking to add a high-profile, frequently visited website to their portfolio. They also want to expand the governance and oversight capacity of their Board by recruiting new directors. Do you have a background in law and accounting? These voluntary positions may be especially suited to retired or semi-retired professionals in those fields, but they would welcome expressions of interest from anyone, Contact Laurel Smith, Artistic Producer 1-877-283-1283 or laurel@classictheatre.ca

Community Cup: Kick Start your Canada Day Weekend in the park! Volunteer with the 9th Annual Community Cup Celebration and Soccer Tournament taking place on Sunday June 30th from 9am to 5pm at Brewer Park (across from Carleton University). Join our team and help us connect newcomers and Canadians through sport, culture and community. As part of our team of 150 volunteers you will get a free t-shirt and bbq lunch and have the opportunity to be involved in such roles as soccer coordination, kids’ zone, community tent, sport demonstration and much more. To register to volunteer please visit www.communitycup.ca or contact Meghan Johnson at volunteers@communitycup.ca or at 613-232-9634 x431.

ChangeTheWorld:  We’re at 8,000 youth volunteer hours for the ChangeTheWorld campaign – congratulations Ottawa! We have 8,000 more to go before the end of May. Make sure to email your name, volunteer job and number of hours to Bridget at changetheworld@volunteerottawa.ca for your chance to win some great prizes.  Another opportunity!  Be part of race weekend and help kids cross the finish line. We need help with the Y Kids Marathon – volunteers are needed to run/walk with the kids as well as help them find their parents at the finish line. This great event happens May 26. Email Anne at anne.paliwal@ymcaywca in interested!

Thinking In Pictures:  Thinking in Pictures Educational Services (TIPES) is a non-profit educational and therapeutic service providing support to children, teens and young adults who have pervasive developmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorders and related/additional exceptionalities. They provide affordable ABA therapy, social integration, family relief and tutoring services, and training courses for parents and professionals. Their mission is to teach children and youth with pervasive developmental disorders and other exceptionalities to reach their potential in a positive, learning environment by using a team- based approach, individualized program planning and recreational activities. Needed are volunteer board members to provide a unique perspective in the decision making process of governing the charity and providing direction and growth of TIPES to ensure it best serves the interests of the community and continues to fulfill its mission. The Board meets on the second Wednesday of each month. Contact Gina Manion 613-425-1084 or gina.manion@hotmail.com.

Volunteer Roundup: Ottawa’s latest volunteer opportunities

ChangetheWorld is half way through! We’re still striving to meet our goal so make sure to find opportunities and submit your hours at www.volunteerottawa.ca/youth or email Bridget at changetheworld@volunteerottawa.ca. Submit your name and hours and be entered for a chance to win a lot of great prizes.  For volunteers of all ages, check out www.volunteerottawa.ca or call 613-736-5270 for more great volunteer opportunities.

A good opportunity for youth: Meeting and Greeting — The Parkinson Society is holding its Annual General Meeting on Friday, May 10.  Volunteers are needed to meet and greet, set-up and take-down and help with coats and food. The event is from 1:00-4:00 at 170 Colonnade Road. Email Alan Muir at amuir@ohri.ca for more info.

Another Opportunity for Youth: Heavy Lifters Needed: Come help Habitat for Humanity get their drop off centre ready for summer. Physical work with steel toed boots required. Happening on Saturday May 25 at 3383 Carp Road. Get a group of strong friends together.  Interested?   Email volunteer@habitatncr.com

The magic of open-air theatre:  Odyssey Theatre, Ottawa’s premier summer, masked theatre company needs your help for their summer production of Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw. As a not-for-profit charitable organization Odyssey thrives off the support of its volunteers. Needed are mature, engaging and committed individuals to help mount this summer’s production and willing to work outdoors in the magical environment of open-air theatre. We are looking for Front of House help to assist with ushering, concession sales, box office sales, general set up and audience satisfaction. Sales or customer service experience is an asset but not required. Performances take place between July 25th and August 25th, Tuesday through Sunday evenings, and Thursday/Sunday afternoons. Shifts are in 4-hour increments. Evenings are 6:30pm to 10:30pm and afternoons are 1:00pm – 5:00pm. Some help is required for our Youth Matinees on August 7 and 14, from 10:00am to 2:00pm. We ask volunteers for a minimum of 4 guaranteed shifts. Contact Jacqueline Lefebvre 613-232-8407 or office@odysseytheatre.ca

In Ottawa’s West End:  Embassy West Senior Living is a Residential Care facility providing quality full continuum of care services, including assisted living, dementia care and end of life care. To meet this mission an interdisciplinary team is in place and volunteers are considered an integral part of that team. Compassionate, confident and easy going volunteers are needed to assist and accompany residents who have dementia with daily activities and socializing. You will be spending one-on-one time with residents with high levels of dementia. This position is ideal for retired or future healthcare professionals seeking to help out their community. Do you speak Hebrew and/or Yiddish? Do you have a valid police records check for working with the vulnerable sector (with the past 6 months)? Can you volunteer for 1-1½ hours a week? Would you like to visit with residents who have medical or cognitive challenges on a 1:1 basis? They would love to hear from you! Contact Michelle Proulx (613) 729-4321 ext. 4 or activities@embassywestseniorliving.com.

Help make this the best one yet! The annual Tim Horton’s Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival is holding its 20^th event this year and they are in need of many different volunteers: alternates, beer garden, set-up/take-down, bike park, boat driver, children’s area, docks and staging, hospitality, beach bar, info and greeter, photography-ideography, pledge tent, silent auction, site maintenance, green team, operations, VIP tent, site safety and security, welcoming committee, team services and volunteer services. It’s all happening at Mooney’s Bay from June 17-23. Please contact Anne Pickering  volunteer@dragonboat.net or 613-238-7711 x222. You can also visit www.dragonboat.net.

Get On Your Bikes!  On Saturday June 1^st, 2013 the annual Capital Velo Fest is taking place with cycling games, information, entertainment and fun at Ottawa City Hall. They are looking to fill a variety of volunteer positions for this event: site assistants, bike rodeo guides, road safety monitor, road barrier distribution, photographers, and  road side musicians for the magical Tour La Nuit!. Come dressed for the weather as you’ll be outdoors.  Please register to volunteer online at www.capitalvelofest.ca.

Volunteer your way to good health?

Studies are finding links between volunteering and good health: from lower blood pressure, to fewer functional limitations and the big one — reduced mortality — those who give their time to others are reaping the rewards.

The Vancouver Sun reports:

“Trials are now being conducted, and the results of one trial have just been published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. Researchers at the University of British Columbia led by Hannah Schreier divided 106 high school sophomores into two groups, one of which volunteered about one to 1.5 hours a week for 10 weeks, and the other of which was wait-listed to volunteer at a later date.

The researchers assessed all participants for several cardiovascular risk factors, including body mass index, cholesterol and levels of inflammation. And while there was no significant difference between the two groups at the start of the study, the students in the volunteer group had significantly lower body mass indexes and levels of inflammation, and significantly improved cholesterol profiles, after the volunteering period.”

It is thought increasing one’s empathy and altruism may have an effect on one’s well being and health. The researchers assessed students’ empathy and altruism at the beginning and end of the study and found that students in the volunteer group with the highest empathy and altruism scores at the end of the study enjoyed the most health benefits. On the other hand, students in the non-volunteering group showed no such associations.

If you are interested in the power of volunteering, click here.

Click here for the original Vancouver Sun article.

Volunteer Safety

On April 25, the Ottawa Catholic School Board hosted its 6th Workplace Safety lunch. Two student representatives from every Catholic School met with parents, employers and community representatives (like us!) to talk about safety in the workplace/volunteering setting. It was an enriching conversation about speaking up, knowing the rules and regulations, and emphasizing that your health (physical and mental) is most important.

So as you go out to volunteer in your workplace, don’t forget to inquire about policies and procedures in place to make sure that you’re safe!

Already volunteering? Don’t forget to submit your hours and testimonial to changetheworld@volunteerottawa.ca for your chance to win some great prizes.

Volunteer Roundup: Ottawa’s latest volunteer opportunities

Your community needs you! National Volunteer Week takes place from  April 20-26.  As always, Volunteer Ottawa has an array of listings available for full view on our website, www.volunteerottawa.ca. Or you can call 613-736-5270.

The Lobsters are coming!  Partner up with a friend and help promote a great event! Groups of two are needed to put up posters around central Ottawa neighborhoods advertizing Citizen Advocacy’s annual Evening in the Maritimes event.  Live in Centretown, Old Ottawa east or Westboro? Contact Meghan Maack (mmaack@citizenadvocacy.org) to coordinate the neighborhood that you’ll cover and to pick up posters and tape. This job needs to be completed between April 29 to May 5.

On the course or behind the scenes:  5k Law Day Fun Run/Walk takes place at Ottawa City Hall Festival Plaza on Friday, April 26.  Each year the Canadian Bar Association and County of Carleton Law Association hold a fun run to support one local charity or community program.  Ottawa Family Services Supervised Access Program is this year’s recipient! Come volunteer for race kit preparation and pick up (Wednesday April 24), to be a course marshal (Friday, April 26) or run late entry pick up and clean up on race day. Contact: Trudy O’Bryan  or  volunteers@familyservicesottawa.org

Already signed up for the Ottawa Race Weekend, but looking for a little incentive? The Lung Association invites you to join their new “I Love Lungs” Team to support people living with Asthma, COPD, Pulmonary Fibrosis, and other lung diseases.  Whether you walk or run, nothing is more important than breathing. As part of the “I Love Lungs” Team, you will be raising funds for The Lung Association, and then participate in your race wearing our cool, red tech shirts. Register at http://ORW2013.kintera.org We also welcome volunteer support on Sunday May 27 as part of the “I Love Lungs” Water Station Crew, handing out water, Gatorade, sponges and to cheer on the thirsty travellers! Contact Melanie via email melanie@on.lung.ca, or leave a message at 613-230-4200.

Help events run smoothly! The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is looking for volunteers for two great events: The Epic Walk on June 1^st and the Ultimate Run on June 16^th, 2013. There are many different volunteer positions needed for these events so please visit ottawacancer.ca for more information. Please contact Erin McGuire at 613-247-3527 or emcguire@ottawacancer.ca if interested.

Enjoy working with seniors? The Colonel By Retirement Residence is looking to fill many different positions at this time: hymn songs leader, leader of music appreciation program, computer help, feeding assistant, and painting instructor. Please contact Mary Farrell at mary.farrell@reveraliving.com or 613-730-2002.

Help with this special event! The local neighbours surrounding Fairfields Heritage Property (3080 Richmond road) are hosting a pre-prom party for High School  graduagess on May 24^th, 2013 from 4-6pm. They are looking for volunteers to supervise and ensure that the safety and security requirements of both the guests and the artifacts on display on the property are met. Please contact Katie Graham at 613-723-7936 or reception@nepeanmuseum.ca for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

Volunteer Opportunities

Change the World: Volunteer Youth Challenge is a 4 week campaign from April 21 to May 19 to get high school students to volunteer in their community. The campaign kicks off this Sunday and there is many opportunities that youth can participate in! So grab some friends, gain volunteer hours, and gain great experience. If you submit your hours online (www.volunteerottawa.ca/youth/) you will receive a certificate and be entered to win lots of great prizes. Our Goal: 5,500 youth to volunteer for 16,500 hours

Take the Challenge!

Volunteer Opportunities
Are you a soccer enthusiast? We’re looking for youth to join our Eastern Ontario Youth Soccer Community Engagement Team. Email changetheworld@volunteerottawa.ca for more info!

5km Law Day Fun Run/Walk – April 26
Each year the Canadian Bar Association and County of Carleton Law Association hold a fun run to support one local charity or community program. The Supervised Access Program is this year’s recipient! Come volunteer for race kid preparation and pick up (April 24), to be a course marshal (April 26) or run late entry pick up and clean up.
Contact: Trudy O’Bryan
Email: volunteers@familyservicesottawa.org

The Mother of All Craft Fairs – May 4
Volunteers are needed to set-up and take-down, to prepare and hand out food and to run the registration desk. Different shifts are available.
Where: Sandy Hill Community Centre (250 Somerset East)
Contact: Roxanne
Email: roxannemacpherson@gmail.com