Central Alberta volunteers will unite in Red Deer on Saturday.
On the heels of the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Volunteer Central will present a community volunteer and information fair to introduce helpers to their next exciting opportunity.
About 35 local non-profit organizations will host displays and chat about their work in the community, and meet with volunteers at the Parkland Mall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event will kick off National Volunteer Week, which runs April 7 to 13.
Executive director Pam Snowdon said there’s always a need for volunteers in central Alberta, especially Red Deer. That’s because most organizations have their offices or hubs in the city.
Volunteer Central was able to invite 6,600 potential volunteers in the community, including the close to 5,000 Canada Winter Games volunteers, to the fair. The free event is also open to the broader public.
“When people signed up to volunteer with the games, they were able to opt into receiving communication from Volunteer Central,” Snowdon said.
“So at the conclusion of the games, we were able to communicate with them and invite them.
“A lot of volunteers have been activated in the community because of the games and other events as well,” Snowdon said.
The volunteer fair will give people the opportunity to learn how they can help in the community.
“A lot of people had such a positive experience from the games, they’re thinking ‘what can I do next? How can I be involved?’
“People have been so enthusiastic to be involved because of the games, so we’re hoping to connect that enthusiasm to other organizations and events.”
Those who attend will be able to find volunteer opportunities that meet their needs – short-term gigs such as helping out at golf tournaments, or long-term committments such as sitting on a board of directors.
Volunteer Central has hosted fairs in the past, but this one is expected to be bigger than the ones in the past.
mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com
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