February 2010

What is volunteering?

Volunteering is giving your time, skills or expertise. There are many benefits to volunteering and we believe volunteering can be very satisfying at any time in your life. It can be customized to your interests, available time, and reasons for wanting to volunteer.

There are many opportunities in our Sunshine Coast community. We can suggest a variety of choices that will work for you, and we can help you connect to organizations and groups in the community.

Volunteering creates strong, healthy communities.

Get involved to make a difference.

Volunteer Opportunities

If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity, you have come to the right place. Our members are looking for volunteers. Read through the list below to see if there is something that appeals to you. If you don't find something suitable, contact us and we'll help. 604-885-1036 or scvolunteer@dccnet.com
If you like, we can also keep your information on hand for when new volunteer opportunities arise.

Seniors Centre is looking for friendly folks who would like to volunteer in the following areas:
- kitchen servers
- special events helpers
- reception desk helpers
Membership to the Seniors Centre is a requirement for volunteers.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters is looking for "buddies" during the school year to mentor children in elementary school. 1 year commitment.

Would you like to share your managerial skills for a few hours each week? Thrift store needs supervisors for its volunteer staff.

Community resource centre would love some help in the following areas:

Website manager
Office help to answer phones, help provide information, book appointments
Posting of notices and upcoming events all around the Sunshine Coast

Provide friendship and support to the elderly by visiting seniors in care homes and in their own homes.

Volunteer shoppers needed to take orders and fill grocery carts at Wilson Creek IGA.

Do you like working with numbers? Are you satisfied when the books are balanced? If you have some experience as a bookkeeper, the Skookumchuk Heritage Society needs your help. What a wonderful way to connect with your community and help preserve coastal heritage...
Also looking for a treasurer is the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association. This organization assists local conservation advocacy groups reach their goals. It also addresses major regional conservation and environmental concerns. Take an active role in this group and do your part to help the environment.

Are you interested in healthy living?
Do you want to get involved in local activities & events?
Do you want to contribute to health promotion and cancer prevention on the Sunshine Coast?
The Canadian Cancer Society has volunteer opportunities for you. Learn how you can take action to create a healthier community where you work, live and play.

Sunshine Coast Bear Aware program is looking for dynamic people to offer information and advice to local residents on how to reduce human/bear conflicts.

Do you like to hike? The Sechelt Visitor Centre needs volunteers to check out the local trails on the coast to update the access roads, level of difficulty, etc. They hope you can hike one or two trails a week from their list and submit a short report.

Plans for a celebration during Black History Month in February are taking place. If you would like to be involved in either the planning or the event itself, let us know.

Visit with lots of cute babies! Gibsons Health Unit invites you to help out at weekly baby clinics and drop-ins.

Scouts Canada is looking for various volunteers within their programs. You can have fun reliving what you did as a child, sharing your own skills and hobbies, especially when it comes to outdoor activities...
    You can choose one of these ways to help...
                  being a kayak/canoe instructor,
                  being a hiking/camping instructor
                  leading crafts and games
                  helping youth complete activities so they can achieve Scouting awards
                  driving youth to camps on and off coast

If you are more inclined to work with adults, then you could assist the group commissioner with
administrative duties, or be a secretary/treasurer at monthly meetings.

The Sunshine Coast Film Society is looking for film-lovers to help with publicity and sponsorships.

Help with development, garden and farm upkeep, and website and database management on unique art farm in Gibsons.

Resource centre needs person to organize information and referral resources so this information can be accessible to clients. Also needed is a delivery person to drop off flyers to agencies and community bulletin boards along the coast. Must have reliable transportation.

Assist with artists' receptions at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre. These fun and friendly receptions are once a month, usually first Wednesdays.

Arts centre in Sechelt needs gallery sitters. Meet artists, visitors, and community membersduring a 2.5 hour shift, open Wednesday to Sunday.

Activity volunteer needed in Gibsons for Adult Day Care program - assist with activities, coffee time and lunch clean-up.

Cooks and Servers are needed Fridays in Gibsons to help with the Salvation Army's Lunch and Friends program.

Volunteer Coordinator needed for local conservation group. Duties include recruitment, writing job descriptions, management and retention of volunteers. 4-6 hrs. per week.

Habitat for Humanity needs your help in building affordable housing for families on the coast. There are many ways for you to volunteer:

Recycling team - Help sort refundables to raise money for Habitat projects. Drop-in or regular commitment on Tuesday & Friday mornings. Sechelt 8:30 am, Gibsons 10:00 am.
Be a driver for the recycling team. Drive the cube van between Wilson Creek and Extra Foods Tuesday and/or Friday morning.
ReStore - get experience in a retail hardware environment
Help on construction, landscaping, etc.
Facilitate a home ownership mentoring group.
Help a committee - coordinating events and volunteers, fundraising, etc.

More info at www.habitatsc.ca

The above list was updated on March 1, 2010 and is valid until further notice...

Call Cathy or Tracy @ 604-885-1036 or email scvolunteer@dccnet.com

Sunshine Coast Volunteer Centre
a division of Sunshine Coast Community Services Society