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National Volunteer Week recognizes selfless contributions to the community

April 18, 2024   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

National Volunteer Week is being recognized around the world, and in Canada, this week is a time to celebrate and thank the country’s 24 million volunteers.

National Volunteer Week takes place from April 14 – 20.

This year’s theme is “Every Moment Matters.” It highlights the importance of every volunteer and each contribution they make at a moment when people need more support than ever before.

The sharing of time, skills, empathy, and creativity is vital to the strength and well-being of communities.

Volunteering is often seen as a selfless act – a person gives their time, skills, experience, and passion to help others without expecting anything in return.

While volunteering is a form of service, many volunteers will tell you that “you get more than you give,” when you donate your time for a good cause.

From opportunities to develop new skills to finding a deep and meaningful connection, the worth of volunteering is that it creates social and economic value for all.

From helping to build a home, cleaning up a park, or coaching a sports team, to cooking for an ill friend, checking in on a neighbour, or helping a stranger cross the street, each action impacts a community’s overall wellness.

In Canada, events are organized by Volunteer Canada – the national voice and leadership body for volunteerism in the country with over 1,100 organizational members.

National Volunteer Week was conceived in 1943 as a way to celebrate the contribution made by women on the home front to the war effort.

Volunteering provides an opportunity to help another individual, group, or organization for the betterment of the community as a whole.

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