Engaging with the community through volunteerism

Why volunteer here?

A small community has fewer layers of complex systems and structures than a city has. This makes a small community easier to navigate and find your place within the community. In the city you can feel disengaged from the community but in the Creston Valley and East Shore of the Kootenay Lake, nearly everyone plays an active role in the building of community. Clubs and organizations are easy access points for meeting locals with common interests.  And through your volunteer contributions you’ll become a valued and appreciated member of the community.
 
There are so many personal benefits to volunteering that go beyond the good feeling you get when you help out. These benefits include: getting a feel for the area, access to local inside knowledge, meet new friends, expand network, improve chance of being hired (known candidate), add to skill base, gain greater self awareness and confidence. And most of all volunteering is the best way to become a part of a community.

Where to Volunteer here?

Within the community of Creston Valley and East Shore you will find a diversity of volunteer roles and activities. For instance, you can help out at one of the community halls, you can provide love and care to the animals at PAWS, you can help with trails in both the Creston Valley and East Shore, you can work with horses at Therapeutic Riding Program, provide comfort through Hospice, greet customers at the Creston Valley Hospital Tuck Shop, you can help out at the Wildlife Center (as locals call it) and the help the less fortunate at the Gleaners (Gleaners Too and the Food Bank). How about billeting students? I found that by being a billet for an international student I learned about another culture and I learned more about my community and myself. This is a small sample of ways and places to volunteer.  You can get a list of organizations and clubs from the Chamber of Commerce and Kootenay Employment Services and Community Connections East Shore.

How to Volunteer?

  1. Take time to reflect. What do you like to do? What do you enjoy doing? Do you want to share your skills and knowledge? Do you want to learn new skills? What are your interests and passions? How involved do you want to be initially? Are you a behind the scenes support person or are you comfortable with leading or organizing?  Your answers to these questions may change over time as you evolve.
  2. Notice what events are happening and what feelings and thoughts are coming up for you.
  3. Have an open mind and receptive attitude. You may find that something that previously didn’t interest you before does now that your circumstances are different. Having an open mind and receptive attitude will help you notice volunteer opportunities.
  4. The nice thing about volunteering is it isn’t a job. You may agree to fulfilling an obligations but the obligation will be of your choosing. Be upfront and open about what you are willing to take on and ask for clarity about expectations.
  5.  Be flexible and understanding as organizations vary in their degree of sophistication.
  6. Be compassionate when you notice people struggling as most volunteers are there with an open heart doing their best but may lack in necessary skills for the tasks they have taken on.
  7. Most of all have fun connecting into the community. Volunteering is a very rewarding experience.