Quote:
Originally Posted by drewboy12
I do not do the gift thing anymore these days, and won't make it home to see my family. I think I am going to volunteer my time for the holidays. Does anyone know of any good places in Vancouver that require volunteers? I have never actually done any organised volunteering before.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo
This is a solid idea. And frankly, as a new Vancouver transplant looking for a place to volunteer, keep me posted.
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The Caregie Centre does a large Christmas Dinner each year and may need volunteers:
http://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation...ie-centre.aspx
The Oppenheimer Park Christmas Dinner on December 20th:
http://oppenheimerdinner.ca/news.html
The CIAO:Van spends Christmas Eve handing out stockings and having a little Christmas celebration for the less fortunate and usually need volunteers:
http://www.ciaovan.ca/#!about_us/csgz
You could also probably cold call any Vancouver (or area) shelter and ask if they need assistance:
http://vancouver.ca/people-programs/...-shelters.aspx Many will not or do not have the means to advertise for help but may need it.
Prior to calling any of these places, it might be wise to head down to your local police station and get a Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (
http://vancouver.ca/police/organizat...ing/index.html) which might be required for some places to volunteer. If you have no criminal record, it will come back with nothing and you will get clearance for a couple of years. I've had to get one or show proof of one for any volunteer work I've done, so it might be necessary in BC too. Don't let this scare you off from volunteering though, when I've filled it out, it was one quick sheet, show my ID, wait a week to get the paperwork back and done. Very little hassle and the people at the station are usually really helpful when you say it's to volunteer.