Volunteer organizations having a hard time filling vacancies

While most sectors have recovered from the effects of the pandemic, volunteer organizations say they are still having a difficult time recruiting new helpers.

Volunteerism has been in steady decline for years, it started before the pandemic but has decreased significantly in the years since.

Jane Hennig, Executive Director, Volunteer Waterloo Region spoke to The Mike Farwell Show and said they’re seeing a drop in numbers amongst their most reliable groups of volunteers; seniors and students.

She said on average seniors contributed the highest number of hours, but that has changed.

“A lot of those volunteers aged out during the pandemic. Many of them are able to volunteer are still concerned about exposing themselves to COVID-19 which continues to be an issue for many people.”

Hennig says when it comes to students, the pandemic severely impacted their social skills.

“What we’re hearing from the young people is it’s not that they don’t want to volunteer, they just are afraid. They don’t know how to interact with people they don’t know.”

The Province of Ontario made volunteer hours a requirement to earn a high school diploma in 1999.

Hennig says volunteering has a significant effect on the economy.

“When we look at the contribution of volunteers prior to the pandemic across Canada, it was like 2.7 per cent of the GDP. When you work that out to a local number, that over $1.2 billion of contribution from volunteers through their work efforts.”

But she adds there is also an intrinsic value that comes from volunteering.

“The volunteer really gets something out of it. They’re feeling that their contribution is making a difference. Something they believe in is happening the community. The recipient is receiving a service they need.”

Volunteer Waterloo Region has a long list of volunteer opportunities available for anyone looking to help out.