Do some good
It is easier said than done.
But to their credit, volunteers keep doing their best to lighten the load of others and offer opportunities for the public.
Drop by an arena or sports field any weekend and you will find dozens of people making minor sports work. Often it is parents who fill these roles, as coaches, trainers and assistants. Municipalities invest the capital and resources for the various clubs, but without the volunteer component, hardly an organized sport would be played.
Service clubs, long known for focusing on youth or specific charitable pursuits, organize around the premise of giving back. The raffles and fundraising initiatives don’t just happen – it takes teamwork and volunteers fill that role.
As noted in our article on page 19, the idea of community service and community betterment through volunteering has lost ground. Changing demographics, bedroom community dynamics and a populace with selfish rather than lofty public aims are impacting the volunteer base.
Within that story we sense some issues with commitment.
A quick one-off volunteer stint to meet graduation requirements allows students to complete Grade 12. While the sentiment was good, there must have been some hope that experience would lead to longer-term aspirations. Perhaps it will, in due time.
For others, commitment is a challenge due to work or personal schedules that limit the time people can dedicate. It wouldn’t be inappropriate to consider the current economic climate factors into the inability to commit. Not all jobs are equal and the disparity amongst income classes has become more pronounced in recent years.
For the more human aspects of volunteering, not everyone is cut out for that. We are thinking of youth and senior programs where people may be hesitant to duck in and out of people’s lives. It takes a special person to mentor and care for others.
Special counselling, like one might find with Victim Services is yet another volunteer scenario where it takes a person of resilience and fortitude to help a family navigate hardship. But, there are those who do it spectacularly well and have done so for years.
The agricultural societies and cultural festivals – think fall fair or Highland Games – are very dependent on a team of helpers to pull the event off. Many of those personalities come from families that have engaged in putting on community get-togethers for generations.
Although researchers are doing their best to analyze the topic, we suspect some organizations, due to their success, have hired staff for some roles. It wouldn’t surprise us if that deters some people from giving up their time while others get paid. Unpopular as that revelation may be, it might be something organizations need to consider.
On pages 25 to 28 we have noted numerous organizations around the county that may interest residents looking to help community-based projects.
Helping others is medicine for the soul.