OTTAWA – Communities across Canada will celebrate National Volunteer Week from April 7 to 13.
Volunteer Canada has launched the theme for National Volunteer Week (NVW) 2019: The Volunteer Factor – Lifting Communities.
“As we recognize the collective efforts of volunteers, we reflect on the multitude of actions taken locally to help people, communities and neighbourhoods become better prepared to respond to the unexpected, and better positioned for a more sustainable future,” said Volunteer Canada in a press release.
“We see it everyday. Volunteers leading neighbourhood activities, lifting the collective confidence to solve common issues. Volunteers tutoring people to read, lifting their self-esteem and increasing their success in school.
“Volunteers visiting people, lifting their spirits and keeping them connected.”
Volunteers coach sports teams, lift community pride and create lifelong bonds.
“You never know what can give others a lift during a difficult day,” said the release.
“Someone spontaneously pays for your coffee or lets you go ahead of them in line at the grocery store.
“Maybe a neighbour shoveled your walk after a storm when you were healing from surgery.
“Maybe you asked someone to join a board of directors of the neighbourhood association and they agreed.
“What is behind this… it’s the Volunteer Factor.”
Volunteering can also lift the spirits of volunteers themselves, when they have the opportunity to work with others.
“Our sense of purpose is lifted when we see how our efforts have helped someone else.
“Our confidence lifts when we gain skills and experience through volunteering, helping us get into a competitive school program or successfully find a job.”
The Volunteer Factor lifts people’s chances to achieve their goals.
The marketing efforts for Volunteer Week include an image of beautiful hot air balloons of different sizes, shapes and colours, reflecting the diversity of community volunteers.
It illustrates that when people volunteer together, the sky is the limit, in terms of what they can achieve.
