SURREY - A volunteer action is like a stone thrown in a lake: its effect has a direct impact. At the same time, like ripples, volunteer efforts reach out far and wide to improve communities.
No question, volunteers rock. National Volunteer Week is a time to recognize, celebrate and thank Canada's volunteers. This year, NVW takes place from April 12 to 18.
It's a time to say "thank you" to the volunteers across the country.
According to Volunteer Canada, more than half of Canada's 161,000 non-profit and charitable organizations have no paid staff and rely solely on volunteers. The nation's 12.7 million volunteers contribute close to two billion hours annually.
Locally, the Sources organization has a variety of volunteer-driven programs dedicated to promoting social wellness in Surrey and White Rock, including tax preparation for low-income people, a food bank, a driving service, a shop-byphone program and more. For details visit Sourcesbc.ca or call 604-542-4357.
Some similar programs are operated at the Deltassist Volunteer Centre in Delta, at 9097 120 St. Call 604-594-3455 to get involved.
In celebration of National Volunteer
Week, Canadians are urged to recognize volunteers by offering them a token stone. Stones will be available in the NVW Gift Store and will feature an engraved message on one side: "Volunteers Rock." Just like no two stones are identical, every volunteer is unique. This is why one side of the stone is blank for you to write on. A name, an impact word or a short thank you can be added to personally recognize a volunteer. For details, visit Volunteer.ca.
"We want to see personalized token NVW stones that thank volunteers: Share a photo of yours on Twitter with the #NVW2015 hashtag or on Facebook by tagging @Volunteer Canada," reads a post on the website.
"We'd like to thank Investors Group for their ongoing commitment to volunteer recognition. Investors Group's passion for strengthening volunteering across our country sets them apart as a leader among Canadian companies."
In Canada, the history of National Volunteer Week dates back to 1943, when the campaign drew attention to the vital contribution women made to the war effort on the home front. Although NVW was largely forgotten after the war ended, it experienced a revival in the late 1960s, when organizations stressed the importance of thanking volunteers across Canada.
"Volunteers form the bedrock of Canadian communities," writes Paula Speevak, president and CEO of Volunteer Canada, on the organization's website.
"With each of the two billion hours Canadians volunteer each year, people are reaching their potential, organizations are stronger, communities are healthier and more resilient and society is more inclusive and just."