Volunteer and enrich your life

Times Contributor

 

Ken Larson volunteers with Victim Services and many other organizations in the Strathmore area. He received the Citizen of the Year award from the Chamber of Commerce in 2004. He said keeping busy is not one of his problems.

“Anybody that says they are bored hasn’t tried volunteering in Strathmore,” said Larson.

He said that volunteers get ten times more than they put in. The gratitude of those he serves makes a positive influence in his life. Another reward is free courses, which benefit the agencies and add to personal self-development.  Employers also have called him as a reference when volunteers he has supervised listed him as a reference on their resumes. He said it isn’t hard to get started volunteering and suggested that even one hour per week can be effective.

“If it wasn’t for volunteers, a lot of agencies would not be able to do what they do,” said Larson about volunteer contributions. He feels if more people were to take it to heart to help their fellow men, the world would be a better place.

One of Larson’s pet projects is the Strathmore Regional Victim Services. The Service currently has 20 volunteers and is always looking for more. Tammy Cooper, Assistant Volunteer Coordinator, said that they are starting to get a better volunteer response this year. Volunteers work closely with the RCMP and must have a security clearance and take training. She said volunteers value the social and group interactions. They meet once a month and have a yearly conference in Banff. Volunteers also get the reward of helping others. 

“After a trauma call, we do a debriefing and they often say ‘Wow I’ve really made a difference in someone’s life’,” said Cooper.

Interested parties can call Cooper at 403 934-6552 to volunteer, or potential volunteers and those who may be victims of violence can scan the website www.strathmoreregionalvictimservices.com for more info.

Strathmore Heritage Days also recruits a large number of volunteers. 

“Last year we had approximately 500 volunteers for Heritage Days, equating to 6,000 total hours volunteered, 100 of said volunteers were under the age of 18,”said Jessica Hall, Office Administrator.

Prior to Heritage Days, volunteers register in the office and then committee heads contact them.  People choose areas of interest. The committee head then coordinates with the volunteer in order to fill the schedule and jobs needed.  Hall said they also have numerous volunteers walk up throughout the weekend wanting to give a hand. These volunteers register at the Volunteer Corral, and then report to areas of choice and/or areas they may be short. Schedules of work accommodate the volunteer’s needs. There is also an appreciation banquet given for the volunteers prior to the event. For more details, contact Hall at sdags@telus.net or at the office 403.934.5811.

Sometimes people are not sure how to find out about opportunities. Many organizations in Strathmore list those opportunities and requests in the local papers. People can contact schools or scan the Wheatland County and Area Resource Directory for Charitable Organization numbers.

There is a Growing Opportunities initiative in Strathmore, www.bridgingthegapalberta.ca  that helps link organizations with the plus 55 volunteer. It is also listed on the Town of Strathmore website. Organizations list their opportunities and requirements and volunteers can choose their assignments, all on the website.  

“The program is very successful. Older volunteers are mentoring younger people in many of the opportunities,” said WFCSS spokesperson Sharon Tibeau. 

The www.volunteeralberta.ca website is also a good resource for volunteers and agencies alike.