United Way Perth-Huron and every not-for-profit could not do what they do without the help of volunteers.
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization and every not-for-profit organization,” said UWPH Executive Director Ryan Erb. “So we want to celebrate any chance we get and volunteer week is our opportunity to do that.”
National Volunteer Week runs April 14-20. It is a time to “highlight the importance of every volunteer and each contribution they make at a moment when we need support more than ever”, according to Volunteer Canada.
Erb said the week is a time to think specifically of people in the community, who have given time to not-for-profit organizations.
“Organizations need financial help but what volunteers give is equally important if not more important.”
Erb said the local United Way gathers volunteers in different ways, recruiting specifically for positions by posting opportunities on their website, for example.
They also refer volunteers to other community organizations that may need some help, if there is a surplus of community members looking to volunteer for United Way.
“Please keep coming, we are happy to do that because all it does is help organizations across the region and it means that we have lots of people that are involved locally.”
Erb said it is important to ensure the organization recruits a variety of people, from different backgrounds, different ethnicities and different age ranges.
“We want to make sure the United Way has the perspective of lots of different volunteers in our community and it brings a richness to the organization.”
The executive director said United Way is privileged to have more than 600 volunteers.
“It takes a lot of people to do the amount of work we do across the region. A small number of staff, supported by a huge network of volunteers is the way that this really works.”
