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Every now and then, we like to shine a spotlight on some of the amazing organizations and people that we've had the good fortune to talk with. This week, we'll learn about the YWCA, and the great work that they do to support women and girls in so many ways, and how volunteers contribute to those goals. In this episode, we'll talk with Marika Motiwalla, Communications and Marketing Manager for YWCA Toronto, and Roz Gunn, Director of Marketing and Communications for YWCA Cambridge, to learn about the programs and services offered in each of their communities. While the YWCA has a common goal of helping women, girls, and gender diverse people, every community is unique, and each YWCA office tailors their offerings accordingly.

Finish this sentence: “The world needs more...” The next word could come from a list of hundreds, and all would be totally valid. The world needs more compassion. The world needs more love. Respect. Selflessness. Generosity. Appreciation. Team players. Thanks. Do you know who all of those words also describe? Volunteers. Give me a few minutes of your time to chat about the who's and what's and why's of volunteering, and maybe I can show you why volunteering is such an amazing thing to do, not just for those you're helping, but for yourself, too!

There are great benefits to volunteering close to home. Most of us who volunteer probably do so in our home city or town, but a number of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, are encouraging more local volunteering... much more local... "hyper local" volunteering. We'll discuss just what that is, why it's happening, and how you and your community can benefit from it.

Canada welcomes thousands of newcomers from around the world every year, many of whom face a dramatically different social landscape from that of their homeland. Language, housing, employment, and cultural differences are just a few of the challenges they face. Today, we'll talk about how volunteering can help ease the transition, while giving back to society at the same time.Image by ElasticComputeFarm from Pixabay.

Technology allows us to do amazing things. With the click of a button, we can be “virtually” in someone's living room, even if they're half way around the world. The pandemic has dramatically changed how people socialize. But what if you don't have an internet connection, or what if you, your grandmother, or your friend are not tech savvy? We'll discuss the benefits, challenges, and risks to help you navigate this, whether you're a volunteer or not. Cover photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Today we'll shine a spotlight on the Mississauga Food Bank. You might recall from our very first episode, “Volunteering in the Age of COVID-19”, we talked with Julia de Paz, Volunteer Coordinator at the Mississauga Food Bank. Well, I decided to give her a call once again, and she graciously allowed me to come in for a tour, and to talk with some of the volunteers working hard inside their operation, and learn what they do and what motivates them to volunteer.

The country is dotted with community radio and television stations, often affiliated with schools, universities, cable networks, or community groups, and they rely on volunteers to write content, do reporting, produce on-air programming, and much more. We'll tell you about how this is a great opportunity for volunteers who want to participate in the community and get “out there”!

Everyone has skills and talent. Maybe it's construction, kitchen skills, reading, playing an instrument, knitting, or driving a car. We'll discuss how you can use those skills as a volunteer, and, at the same time, get something back while you're doing good for others.

The environment we live in supports not only you and me. It supports a diversity of wildlife and plant life in which everything is intertwined ... a natural balancing act. Volunteers can play a key role in helping to sustain that environment, whether working with an organization, or within your own backyard.  In this episode, we'll talk with Andrew Holland, National Media Relations Director for the Nature Conservancy of Canada, about how volunteers are critical to their operations.

As volunteers, we love what we do, and we all want to do good in our role, serving the people and organizations we work for, but what can we do to be not just a good volunteer, but a GREAT volunteer? I'm digging into this to see what can take us to that next level.

As volunteers, and as the organizations that depend on volunteers, we're all struggling to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. We'll talk with two organizations to learn more about them, how they're coping, and whether virtual volunteering can help

Welcome to The Volunteer Space, connecting volunteers to people, places, news, opportunities, and so much more! As a volunteer, or potential volunteer, we'll be digging into stories and topics from a wide range of people and organizations. We'll do our best to inform and educate, and to make you laugh and make you cry. In this introductory episode, we tell you what we're all about, what we'll fill you in on who we'll be talking to in future episodes. Be sure to visit our website at www.TheVolunteerSpace.ca for more info.