Volunteerism helps preserve, build, and improve communities in several ways. By meeting unmet needs, strengthening social connections, promoting empowerment, inspiring community engagement, enhancing health and well-being, and fostering a culture of service, volunteers play an integral role in building thriving and resilient communities.
Volunteering as a family instills a sense of values, empathy, teamwork, social skills, self-confidence, organization, time management, and problem-solving.
In addition, your children will inevitably pick up hard skills such as cooking, gardening, technological aptitude, and much more, depending on the organization and position they are volunteering with.
The City of Calgary offers several volunteer opportunities. Some are available during certain timesof the year, while others are offered year-round.
“We often hear from our volunteers about how their interactions through volunteering have resulted in new friendships and connections that last for years,” says Kirsten Pilger, team lead of Recreation Programs, Programming & Access and Recreation & Social Programs with the City of Calgary.
She adds that there are several opportunities for families to volunteer together. Family volunteering opportunities vary by season and location. Age requirements for volunteer opportunities at the city vary based on position and start as young as 13 years old.
According to Pilger, volunteering has many benefits that include meeting other people with shared interests, gaining new skills and knowledge, training opportunities, learning more about how systems work, and being involved in new initiatives that can help others and improve their experiences.
“When people come together and volunteer for a common purpose or interest, it helps to build a sense of belonging and community, broadens their personal network, and creates connections that can enrich daily life,” she says.
Some of the current volunteer opportunities at the city that would be a great fit for families include:
The City also offers community-focused volunteer opportunities in neighborhoods with a community social worker. Volunteers can develop leadership skills and capacity through community involvement and engagement.
“Volunteering for people who need assistance, like students, reduces stress and makes you healthier,” writes Amit Gupta.
“It provides an opportunity to network with different people in your community, especially when you're an immigrant. It helps strengthen your skills and ability to interact with different kinds of people and gives you a sense of freedom to discuss what interests you.”
Volunteer opportunities with the Community Social Work program vary, depending on each community. Some volunteer activities may include:
“Volunteering gave me the opportunity to learn more about different communities as a member of the Neighbourhood Grant Advisory Committee,” writes Ouhayla Mous.
“Being a member of the PhotoVoice Project also made me aware about both the concerns and the beautiful side of the city.”
In 2023, the City of Calgary had 2,650 people volunteer in a large variety of roles.
Volunteer work is also the perfect way to spend time together as a family. With how busy our lives are with school, work, extracurriculars, and other obligations, time together as a family can be few and far between. Volunteering regularly at scheduled times can create a bond that your family wouldn’t otherwise have.
In order to find the best volunteering fit for your family, think about what the members of your gang are interested in. Consider what hobbies you like and what talents you have. Once you know what area of interest you want to volunteer with, reach out to those organizations directly, inquire at a local community centre, or ask about opportunities at your child’s school.
Families can benefit from taking the time to volunteer together and it will help everyone, from your toddler to your teen, feel like an important member of not only your family, but their community.
Learn more about the volunteer opportunities that are available at the City of Calgary at calgary.ca/volunteer. CCM
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