It has been noted by many that the level of volunteerism in Powell River is one aspect which sets this community apart from so many others in the country.
But it is not through this alone that Powell River’s non-profit societies find the skilled help they require. For close to a decade Volunteer Powell River has been matching potential volunteers with organizations needing help.
Kim Miller, manager of Powell River Chamber of Commerce, was one of several members on a steering committee which formed to start Volunteer Powell River. She said the original idea for the centre came from Lyn Adamson at Career Link who saw a great need for the matching service.
“There were a lot of requests for volunteers,” said Miller. “The idea of the volunteer centre was matching volunteers to many organizations who relied on them.”
The committee applied for a Legacies Now grant to fund a coordinator position and Janet Southcott (née Alred) was hired in the spring 2005 on a seven-month contract to open up the office. The original office was tucked in a corner of the chamber’s A-frame building.
Part of Southcott’s job was to investigate potential sources of continued funding for the service. She also set about interviewing volunteers and organizations, then creating a database that captured the preferences of volunteers and needs of organizations. “Then it was about matching them all up,” Miller added. The centre’s initial website was created by a volunteer.
To secure future funding, Powell River and District United Way (PRDUW) stepped up to take over the service. Over the years, there have been a number of coordinators running the centre.
Dale Lawson is PRDUW executive director. During the past decade of operation Lawson estimates that several hundred people have found meaningful opportunities to give back to the community with the help of the centre.
“The amount of time volunteers in Powell River contribute to the organizations they love is nothing short of incredible,” Lawson said. “With the hours spent to ensure success in a broad range of programs from sport, therapeutic, backcountry development, services for seniors to outreach projects for young families like the ORCA Bus, volunteers continue to be the fabric that binds our community tight, making ours among the best communities to live in.”
Volunteer Powell River can be contacted at 604.485.2132.
National Volunteer Week runs from April 12 to 18.
