There are always a lot of great ways that you can give back to your community if you only look. If you don’t have a lot of time to look around then your perfect opportunity takes place with an annual one-stop shop event this weekend.
The fourth annual Volunteer Fair comes to Servus Place on Saturday. For three hours everybody can stop by and enjoy the trade fair atmosphere as they check out a wide array of booths for various agencies that need help.
Pat Phelan, director of volunteer centre services at the Community Information and Volunteer Centre, the sponsor of the event, says that it is a much wanted and needed facilitator of getting the people with free time and interest in helping out connected with the groups that need assistance.
“We found that the community groups all welcomed it. It was an opportunity for them to get out in the community and let people know what they do.”
From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., members of the public can check out 52 booths represented by groups ranging from sports and recreation, arts and culture, service groups, community organizations, specialty groups and charities of all stripes. “A nice cross-section of every single sector” is how Phelan describes it.
The St. Albert Youth Community Centre will occupy one such booth. Right now, the popular hangout is undergoing some major renovations that it is still hoping to get some extra handy hands to help out with. Executive director Brenda O’Neill explains that, wall painting and manual labour aside, she’s always on the lookout for a few new good people.
“It’s a busy time of year for everyone. We’ve had some great volunteers, but they’re ones who are from our regular circle,” she began. “We’re looking for new types of volunteers as well.”
This weekend she hopes to sign up people who can commit to doing even as little as three hours of basic computer work each week. She prefers to sign up post-secondary education students or those who are studying towards degrees in arts, recreation or social work. Regardless, anyone of any skill set is welcome as far as she is concerned.
“Someone who is easing into retirement or has found some time during the week ... three hours is a lot for us. There’s always desks that are coming apart.”
Phelan added that sometimes it takes a little bit more for people to warm up to the concept of volunteering. To that end, she came right out with a direct request.
“We find that volunteers generally volunteer if they’re asked, so I’m asking them to come out and look at what’s available. There’s lots to do in this community.”
Among the other booths that will be on display are the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games (taking place in St. Albert from Feb. 28 to March 3) and the St. Albert Kinettes who have struggled with membership in recent years, but still manage to run a successful food and gift hamper campaign every Christmas.
The Volunteer Fair will be set up on the main floor of Servus Credit Union Place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
