Where Can I Volunteer For Community Service Hours

Written by Jacqueline (she/her), student

If y'all're an Ontario high school pupil, it'due south no secret that you're required to complete volunteer activities in your community to earn your diploma. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Education in Ontario has adjusted the number of hours needed to encounter this requirement.

For students who are graduating in the 2021-2022 school yr, you'll need to consummate a minimum of xx hours. Students graduating in the 2022-2023 year or after volition need to complete a minimum of 40 hours. Regardless of when you lot're finishing high school, getting involved in the community is a bully opportunity to build up your résumé and experience.

Ways yous can go involved

1 of the best places to offset looking for volunteer work is at your local volunteer center. To find yours, the Ontario Volunteer Centre Network has composed a map of centres in Ontario. With so many opportunities out there, my proposition is to volunteer with an organization y'all're familiar with or passionate about. If you lot aren't sure if something counts as volunteering, double check with your school board. Here are a few ideas for you to consider:

Your current or previous school(s)

Ane of the easiest ways to fulfill your volunteer hours is to help at your former elementary or middle school. They oftentimes host events and fundraisers, and it also doubles as an excuse to see teachers yous miss. Your high school may likewise have different events going on that need volunteers. Ask effectually or connect with one of the student clubs to see what's going on.

I volunteered at school fundraising events. I earned around 10-12 hours every yr, and then I had all the required hours by the end of high school.

Community events and customs projects

There are ever events going on in the customs, which means volunteers are needed. Remember of charity runs, marches, toy drives, or art exhibitions. Cheque out your urban center's website to see what's on and where. In addition to events, at that place are organizations in the customs that need volunteers throughout the year, similar soup kitchens and food banks.

Sports and recreation

If you're a sports lover and want to go along your volunteer hours tailored toward this passion, at that place are so many means to become involved. Many high school teams demand scorekeepers or timekeepers. The aforementioned is true for elementary school sports. If yous love the idea of instruction your favourite sport, you could help motorcoach or instruct different sports or recreational activities. Another way you tin get involved is through sports associations, as they are likewise often looking for volunteers for events or camps.

I coached Form 8 volleyball, instructed sailing in the summer, and did the timekeeping for hockey games.

The all-time way to detect opportunities is by request quondam coaches or teachers involved in the sports leagues/associations. You might besides observe volunteer opportunities at Canadian-Universities, Special Olympics Ontario, or Toronto Athletic Camps.

A student volunteering at an animal shelter.

Environmental initiatives and supporting animals

Are you an outdoor person who loves helping the environs? Well, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities for y'all! Talk to your local conservation area, they could probable employ your assist. Mayhap fieldwork isn't exactly what you want to practise. If that's the case, many organizations nevertheless demand assistance in the office where you can proceeds environmental knowledge. If yous're more than of an fauna lover, then you lot can volunteer at local animal shelters, brute sanctuaries, or veterinarian clinics.

Some skilful websites to cheque out are Canadian-Universities, Ontario Wildlife Rescue, Ontario Nature, Skillful Piece of work, Nature Conservancy Canada, and Toronto and Region Conservation Authorization.

Youth programs or volunteering with seniors

If you love working with youth, y'all could become involved with Scouts Canada or Girl Guides Canada. Summer camps are also a great pick every bit they frequently need counsellors and leaders. If you're interested in becoming a teacher or librarian, local libraries are always looking for reading buddies.

Mayhap you want to volunteer with seniors. This population loves getting visitors! Enquire your local retirement or long-term care domicile about volunteer opportunities. You lot may get to assist make crafts, play games, or even teach seniors how to use computers.

Wellness care opportunities

If yous're looking at going into health care, volunteering at your local hospital is a great way to larn how the health care organization works. Canadian Blood Services also needs volunteers to help with blood donations. Y'all could besides check out Ontario Health Coalition or the Canadian Cancer Gild for opportunities.

Religious opportunities

If yous're a religious person, no affair which faith y'all follow, there are always opportunities for youth to go involved. Information technology could be leading a youth grouping or helping at a community dinner.

Still not sure what type of volunteer you are?
Accept this quiz from Volunteer Canada to help y'all figure out where your best fit is.

Benefits of volunteering

Nevertheless feeling like you just desire to get the volunteer hours over with? What's the blitz? Volunteering has many benefits and can aid yous build strong connections – connections that may help you in your career. If you speed through those hours, yous may be missing out on the following.

A student helping deliver food.

Gain work experience and transferable skills

You don't need to be paid to proceeds workplace skills. You could develop effective communication, teamwork, authoritative, and/or people skills. Any of these skills can be transferred to the workplace. These skills tin can help you accelerate your career past helping you get future jobs.

Explore/ discover different interests

If you're passionate about a number of different things, that's okay. You can always cull to divvy upwardly your hours and volunteer at multiple organizations. You might fifty-fifty discover a new passion or interest!

I developed my time management, coordination, cooperation, and communication skills from my time volunteering.

Widen your social circle

When you lot volunteer doing something you lot savour, you'll meet similar similar-minded people. It also connects you to a larger network. You may be able to get your director to write a reference letter of the alphabet or be a recommendation for time to come jobs/opportunities. You could even luck out and get a part-fourth dimension job within the organization.

Volunteering may seem similar a big hurdle as you beginning loftier school, however, there are many takeaways from getting involved in your customs! You may even discover that volunteering is quite fun and pursue it throughout university.

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