Next week is National Volunteer Week, when the importance of every volunteer and each contribution is recognized and celebrated.
According to Volunteer Lethbridge, 57 per cent of residents volunteer in some capacity. The average number of hours a volunteer gives to their community is 90 hours a year. These volunteer hours equate to over $130 million in economic impact.
Executive Director Amanda Jensen says National Volunteer Week is the biggest week of the year. “It’s a very exciting week because it prompts us to recognize the amazing contributions our community members make every day and make life possible in Lethbridge. Imagine a community without volunteers? I think most of us couldn’t. We do want to recognize volunteers all year round, but it’s nice to have it formalized and do some special things and go big.”
Volunteer Lethbridge, Jensen notes, plays several roles in the community. “But the one that comes to mind for most people is the connection we make between people who want to serve their community in a non-profit organization and those non-profits that need and want the support.”
Jensen says the non-profit sector is quite broad and includes sports, arts, culture, heritage, environment and social services. “There are many opportunities for people to serve in a volunteer role in our community. I think a lot of time we think about popular volunteer opportunities that tend to come up a lot, but I think it would surprise people to know, Volunteer Lethbridge is advertising and recruiting for over 250 volunteer positions in our community right now.”
“The breadth and the variety – there’s a ton to pick from,” adds Jensen.
Jensen says to think about what a community needs to run smoothly and ask, “who would do it if not for volunteers? The only other possibility is the public sector.”
“Even if the public sector had a desire, willingness or ability to do everything that happens under volunteer power, the sheer cost of it would be astronomical and we couldn’t do it. We absolutely need people to step forward and support the community in ways meaningful for them.”
Jensen says there’s a lot of talk about volunteerism in the love, care and service sectors – which is where it should be. “But there’s also a huge economic driver, we should recognize more often.”
With National Volunteer Week, Jensen says, the first thing residents can do is think about volunteering, “if they’re not already.”
Volunteerism has changed over the last decade, Jensen notes. “We are more looking for short-term episodic volunteering opportunities now, rather than previously committed to somewhere long-term and expected somewhere on a regular basis.”
“There’s a lot of ways to give that don’t mean you’re making a lifetime commitment.”
Another important aspect of National Volunteer Week, Jensen adds, is to thank a volunteer and recognize their service.