None of our achievements would be possible without the enthusiasm and dedication of our volunteers.
As those who give their time were recently celebrated and recognized in April during National Volunteer Week, the work done by those who lend a helping hand and make a difference in the lives of others comes into sharper focus.
The Area 506 and Boxcar festivals were a massive success last year because of the time and effort of volunteers. Nearly 100 people put in close to 800 volunteer hours during the back-to-back weekend festivals, raising awareness and funds for United Way.
All of the tips that are collected at the festivals are donated to the United Way, which coordinates the volunteers for the bar service.
“It was a fun experience, everyone’s energy was so positive,” one volunteer remarked, “and it was nice knowing that tips from the event were going back to the United Way.”
One company was inspired to offer paid work time to their employees to pitch-in as volunteers after helping out at the Boxcar festival.
Our services in coordinating volunteers for companies and non-profits is an important service offered by the United Way.
That includes organizing a group of employees from BMO to help Sistema New Brunswick move their musical instruments back and forth from their education facility in Millidgeville to Saint John High School – in the pouring rain – for their spring concert.
“It made a huge difference to our whole concert experience,” says Rachel Kidd, Centre Director (Saint John) for Sistema.
There is also the valuable work done by our workplace volunteers, who serve as ambassadors among their peers by encouraging donations that help those in need.