Volunteer, feel good

AIRDRIE VOLUNTEERS STEP UP IN TIME OF NEED

BY STACIE GAETZ

True to the community spirit for which Airdrie is known, residents came out in force looking for ways to lend a hand during the COVID-19 pandemic and Volunteer Airdrie answered the call.

“Volunteer Airdrie set up its Airdrie COVID-19 Response category on our Better Impact volunteering app in response to the numerous requests we were receiving from residents, groups and people from outside of Airdrie who expressed a desire to help out during the crisis,” says Dave Maffitt, chair of the Volunteer Airdrie Society.

He added many of the local non-profit agencies were also receiving inquiries from new volunteers or existing volunteers (seniors and vulnerable people) who could no longer donate their time in the same way.

The volunteering opportunities available through Volunteer Airdrie’s website and Better Impact volunteering app are “virtual volunteering” activities that people can do safely from the comfort of their homes.

For example, volunteers can make face masks for use by residents of the Mustard Seed. Another initiative is to sew tote bags for frontline health care workers to use when transporting their work uniforms home safely to be washed.

“We have seen a lot of interest in writing cards and letters to our senior residents at the Bethany Care Airdrie facility to help them deal with isolation from their family and friends who are no longer able to visit them in person,” says Maffitt.

Volunteer Airdrie has also been supporting the Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre with donations of linens, blankets, towels and wash cloths for the 500 emergency beds that were opened in March.

Maffitt says the response to the app has been even more positive than he could have imagined. The organization’s membership in Better Impact

has grown rapidly in the past few months with 775 volunteers, up from 660 in December 2019. “We have been impressed with some of the grassroots initiatives that we have seen so far, with several new Facebook groups launched to provide support to those that need it most,” he says. “We hope that people new to volunteering and especially virtual volunteering will find that they enjoy helping others and want to continue in some way after the crisis is over.” Volunteer Airdrie is working with the City of Airdrie’s Social Planning and Community Development groups to plan for the post-crisis recovery, which will include strategies to re-engage volunteers that have been on the sidelines for the past few months. “Volunteering helps keep people Maffitt says his team encourages residents to volunteer during active both physically and mentally and and after the crisis, as long as it is gives each day a purpose, not only to get out done as safely as possible. of bed, but be part of history” “We know people want to help others but may not know how to go about doing so safely,” he says. “Volunteering helps keep people active both physically and mentally and gives each day a purpose, not only to get out of bed, but be part of history.” Premier of Alberta Jason Kenney and Chief Medical Officer Deena Hinshaw have also encouraged Albertans to do their part in helping others get through this challenging situation by volunteering their time. Residents interested in volunteering can sign up free of charge for the Better Impact app available on the App Store or learn more about available opportunities through volunteerairdrie.ca, social media channels @volunteerairdrie, by phone at 403-993-5034 or by email info@volunteerairdrie.ca