If you love animals, volunteer at a shelter — there are many roles to fill. | VIDEO: WAVEBREAKMEDIA/ENVATO
Top 10 Ways You Can Donate Your Time and Volunteer
Many organizations that do important work in your community rely on local volunteering to keep running. Here’s how to participate.
By Vawn Himmelsbach
Do you want to make a difference in your community? While it’s true that most organizations need financial support and you can donate money to a cause close to your heart, consider making your contribution through volunteer opportunities. Whether you’re donating your time, your knowledge or a unique skillset, here are 10 ways you can make a difference by helping local charities that align with your values to fulfill their missions.
SELECT A QUESTION TO JUMP TO THAT SECTION.
Have long hair you’re willing to part with?
Love animals?
Enjoy visiting the museum?
Enjoy DIY projects?
Are you a people person?
Is food your love language?
Book lover?
Love the arts?
Passionate about nature?
Are you an athlete?
➊ Have long hair you’re willing to part with? Donate it to help make a wig.
When you make a hair donation in Canada, your locks are used to create wigs for people experiencing hair loss due to conditions, such as alopecia or medical treatments such as chemotherapy. Wigs can be very expensive and out of reach financially, but organizations such as CancerCare Manitoba and A Child’s Voice Foundation accept hair donations to create free wigs for those who need one.
Most organizations that accept hair donations require a minimum length — usually at least 8 to 12 inches. Most stipulate too that the hair needs to be chemically untreated, though some will accept coloured or permed hair, so it’s important to read the specifications for donations.
Cut your hair and donate it to an organization that will turn it into a wig for a person experiencing hair loss due to a medical condition or treatment. | PHOTO: davidpradoperucha/envato
➋ Love animals? Become an animal shelter volunteer.
Did you know most animal shelters and wildlife rehabilitation centres are heavily dependent on volunteers? Many don’t require a large time commitment and would welcome a few hours a week. You can help out by rescuing, caring for or transporting injured animals; grooming and walking dogs; or lending a hand behind the scenes at animal rescue organizations such as the Winnipeg Humane Society, D’Arcy’s ARC and Wildlife Haven.
From animal shelters to wildlife preserves, there are many organizations that need volunteers to help look after animals. | PHOTO: ANDREJ LISAKOV/UNSPLASH
➌ Enjoy visiting the museum? Lead tours, be a docent or do outreach.
Donating your time and expertise can be a rewarding way to support your favourite museum or explore one that aligns with your knowledge and interests. If you love aviation and know a thing or two about planes, consider the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada. If you have a green thumb, the Friends of the Living Prairie Museum might be a fit. Some of the larger museums have a sizable team — the Manitoba Museum has hundreds of volunteer positions, providing a lot of opportunity. A visit to the Museums in Canada website may help you find one right in your neighbourhood.
Museums often have a variety of positions to fill; find one that matches your interests. | PHOTO: SEVENTYFOUR/ADOBE STOCK
➍ Enjoy DIY projects? Help build affordable homes.
Join a volunteer construction crew and get to work building homes. Habitat for Humanity Manitoba builds affordable homes for qualified partner families in the province. The organization relies on volunteers to get the job done. There are two active builds in the province with more planned for the future, so it’s an ideal time to lend a work-gloved hand.
Whether you have the skills or need some instruction, you can join a build and help construct a new home. | PHOTO: YUNUS TUG/UNSPLASH
➎ Are you a people person? Volunteer at your local hospital or seniors’ centre.
Company is a wonderful way to show kindness. Whether it’s having a conversation, reading a book to someone or playing a game of cards, donating your time can bring joy to isolated seniors. Many organizations, such as Victoria Hospital and A&O Support Services for Older Adults, need volunteers to provide companionship to seniors in local hospitals or seniors centres.
No special skills required — just spend time with residents and patients. Your company is the thing that’s needed most. | PHOTO: AGE CYMRU/UNSPLASH
➏ Is food your love language? Help out at the food bank.
Local food banks are often looking for volunteers to fill various roles, from sorting food and packing hampers to kitchen prep and meal delivery. To find a food bank near you, search Harvest Manitoba (the province’s central food bank resource) or reach out to neighbourhood hubs. This can be an opportunity to volunteer with family or friends and show children the importance of giving back to the community.
Find a food bank close to you and help feed your community. | PHOTO: CULTURA CREATIVE/ADOBE STOCK
➐ Book lover? Volunteer at a local library.
Libraries have always been at the heart of the community, supporting families with programming, assisting students with their studies and hosting events for all ages. From helping the librarians optimize organization to managing events and programming to supporting patrons during their visits, libraries offer a host of opportunities to get involved. Currently, the Boyne Regional Library has volunteer opportunities open to those as young as 12, requiring as little as one to two hours a week.
Your local library is a hub of the community; there are a number of ways to get involved. | PHOTO: NONVIG/PEOPLEIMAGES.COM/ADOBE STOCK
➑ Love the arts? Get involved with a local festival.
Whether it’s dance, music or theatre, if you love the arts, consider volunteering at a festival. Organizers often look for volunteers to help out with everything from selling tickets to serving as a greeter or usher, usually in exchange for festival access and perks. Most municipalities offer cultural events with a volunteer program. You can also contact major festivals, such as Dauphin’s Countryfest or Winnipeg Folk Festival. If you’re trying to fit volunteering into a busy lifestyle, opting for a one-day event can be a great fit.
Don’t just go to the festival — be a part of it by volunteering. | PHOTO: MONKEYBUSINESS/ENVATO
➒ Passionate about nature? Help rebuild hiking trails.
If you love being out in nature, volunteer to maintain and rebuild trails in Manitoba parks through regional conservation authorities and local stewardship programs. Trails Manitoba coordinates park infrastructure improvements and runs regional volunteer events across the province. Nature Manitoba arranges trail maintenance work parties.
If you love spending time in nature, volunteering to maintain trails is the perfect match. | PHOTO: A-C/UNSPLASH
➓ Are you an athlete? Coach local youth sports.
Contact local community leagues to find volunteer coaching opportunities. From very young athletes lacing up their first pair of skates to seniors in high school looking for opportunities to play lacrosse in university, coaching allows you to do more than teach a sport; it allows you to mentor a young person. You can teach technique, recount stories about your playing experience and share your passion for the game. This is a significant commitment, requiring regular participation at practices and games throughout a season. Check out Sport Manitoba to take a swing at an opportunity or connect with your local leagues. Beyond coaching, recreational sports leagues often require equipment managers, board members and officials to call games. These can be less time-consuming and offer more flexible opportunities. To volunteer as a sports coach in Manitoba, you’ll need to complete mandatory Respect in Sport training. CAA
You love your sport, so why not share it with the next generation of players? | PHOTO: astrakanimages/ENVATO
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Volunteering That Can Help Your Community, Big or Small
Top 10 Ways to Contribute to the Circular Economy
The Volunteers Behind Wildlife Rescue: Heroes Helping Animals Heal
Have long hair you’re willing to part with?
Love animals?
Enjoy visiting the museum?
Enjoy DIY projects?
Are you a people person?
Is food your love language?
Book lover?
Love the arts?
Passionate about nature?
Are you an athlete?
Cut your hair and donate it to an organization that will turn it into a wig for a person experiencing hair loss due to a medical condition or treatment. | PHOTO: davidpradoperucha/envato
➊ Have long hair you’re willing to part with? Donate it to help make a wig.
When you make a hair donation in Canada, your locks are used to create wigs for people experiencing hair loss due to conditions, such as alopecia or medical treatments such as chemotherapy. Wigs can be very expensive and out of reach financially, but organizations such as CancerCare Manitoba and A Child’s Voice Foundation accept hair donations to create free wigs for those who need one.
Most organizations that accept hair donations require a minimum length — usually at least 8 to 12 inches. Most stipulate too that the hair needs to be chemically untreated, though some will accept coloured or permed hair, so it’s important to read the specifications for donations.
From animal shelters to wildlife preserves, there are many organizations that need volunteers to help look after animals. | PHOTO: ANDREJ LISAKOV/UNSPLASH
➋ Love animals? Become an animal shelter volunteer.
Did you know most animal shelters and wildlife rehabilitation centres are heavily dependent on volunteers? Many don’t require a large time commitment and would welcome a few hours a week. You can help out by rescuing, caring for or transporting injured animals; grooming and walking dogs; or lending a hand behind the scenes at animal rescue organizations such as the Winnipeg Humane Society, D’Arcy’s ARC and Wildlife Haven.
Museums often have a variety of positions to fill; find one that matches your interests. | PHOTO: SEVENTYFOUR/ADOBE STOCK
➌ Enjoy visiting the museum? Lead tours, be a docent or do outreach.
Donating your time and expertise can be a rewarding way to support your favourite museum or explore one that aligns with your knowledge and interests. If you love aviation and know a thing or two about planes, consider the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada. If you have a green thumb, the Friends of the Living Prairie Museum might be a fit. Some of the larger museums have a sizable team — the Manitoba Museum has hundreds of volunteer positions, providing a lot of opportunity. A visit to the Museums in Canada website may help you find one right in your neighbourhood.
Whether you have the skills or need some instruction, you can join a build and help construct a new home. | PHOTO: YUNUS TUG/UNSPLASH
➍ Enjoy DIY projects? Help build affordable homes.
Join a volunteer construction crew and get to work building homes. Habitat for Humanity Manitoba builds affordable homes for qualified partner families in the province. The organization relies on volunteers to get the job done. There are two active builds in the province with more planned for the future, so it’s an ideal time to lend a work-gloved hand.
No special skills required — just spend time with residents and patients. Your company is the thing that’s needed most. | PHOTO: AGE CYMRU/UNSPLASH
➎ Are you a people person? Volunteer at your local hospital or seniors’ centre.
Company is a wonderful way to show kindness. Whether it’s having a conversation, reading a book to someone or playing a game of cards, donating your time can bring joy to isolated seniors. Many organizations, such as Victoria Hospital and A&O Support Services for Older Adults, need volunteers to provide companionship to seniors in local hospitals or seniors centres.
Find a food bank close to you and help feed your community. | PHOTO: CULTURA CREATIVE/ADOBE STOCK
➏ Is food your love language? Help out at the food bank.
Local food banks are often looking for volunteers to fill various roles, from sorting food and packing hampers to kitchen prep and meal delivery. To find a food bank near you, search Harvest Manitoba (the province’s central food bank resource) or reach out to neighbourhood hubs. This can be an opportunity to volunteer with family or friends and show children the importance of giving back to the community.
Your local library is a hub of the community; there are a number of ways to get involved. | PHOTO: NONVIG/PEOPLEIMAGES.COM/ADOBE STOCK
➐ Book lover? Volunteer at a local library.
Libraries have always been at the heart of the community, supporting families with programming, assisting students with their studies and hosting events for all ages. From helping the librarians optimize organization to managing events and programming to supporting patrons during their visits, libraries offer a host of opportunities to get involved. Currently, the Boyne Regional Library has volunteer opportunities open to those as young as 12, requiring as little as one to two hours a week.
Don’t just go to the festival — be a part of it by volunteering. | PHOTO: MONKEYBUSINESS/ENVATO
➑ Love the arts? Get involved with a local festival.
Whether it’s dance, music or theatre, if you love the arts, consider volunteering at a festival. Organizers often look for volunteers to help out with everything from selling tickets to serving as a greeter or usher, usually in exchange for festival access and perks. Most municipalities offer cultural events with a volunteer program. You can also contact major festivals, such as Dauphin’s Countryfest or Winnipeg Folk Festival. If you’re trying to fit volunteering into a busy lifestyle, opting for a one-day event can be a great fit.
If you love spending time in nature, volunteering to maintain trails is the perfect match. | PHOTO: A-C/UNSPLASH
➒ Passionate about nature? Help rebuild hiking trails.
If you love being out in nature, volunteer to maintain and rebuild trails in Manitoba parks through regional conservation authorities and local stewardship programs. Trails Manitoba coordinates park infrastructure improvements and runs regional volunteer events across the province. Nature Manitoba arranges trail maintenance work parties.
You love your sport, so why not share it with the next generation of players? | PHOTO: astrakanimages/ENVATO
➓ Are you an athlete? Coach local youth sports.
Contact local community leagues to find volunteer coaching opportunities. From very young athletes lacing up their first pair of skates to seniors in high school looking for opportunities to play lacrosse in university, coaching allows you to do more than teach a sport; it allows you to mentor a young person. You can teach technique, recount stories about your playing experience and share your passion for the game. This is a significant commitment, requiring regular participation at practices and games throughout a season. Check out Sport Manitoba to take a swing at an opportunity or connect with your local leagues. Beyond coaching, recreational sports leagues often require equipment managers, board members and officials to call games. These can be less time-consuming and offer more flexible opportunities. To volunteer as a sports coach in Manitoba, you’ll need to complete mandatory Respect in Sport training. CAA