VolunteerNS News

 

 

November 2023 marks five years since the launch of www.volunteerns.ca. Kings Volunteer Resource Centre (KVRC) hosts the free volunteer linking service, in partnership with Volunteer Canada and the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage.

“KVRC has been thrilled to provide this free service since 2018,” says Board Chair Angela Patterson. The Volunteer Nova Scotia (VNS) site allows non-profit organizations, community groups, charities, and clubs to post their vacant opportunities making it easy to find a volunteer with the needed skills. Those looking to offer their time and expertise to their communities can also search for volunteer opportunities that are right for them.

Patterson says a major challenge for the site midway in year-two was the Covid pandemic. From 2020 through 2022, organizations had not been as active in volunteer recruitment, due to shutdowns and changes in programming. Volunteers too were staying at home. In response, some organizations began offering more virtual opportunities. In the past 18 months, organizations have been reactivating their profiles and volunteers are visiting the site seeking new opportunities. Since the start of 2023, close to 27,000 have viewed the postings, with the most traffic in June. Over 700 organizations from across the province currently have profiles listed on VNS.

“We have had wonderful response to our postings, and are delighted with the website,” says Leslie Aver from Teichert Gallery, a VNS member organization in Halifax.

Following a special event at Annapolis Valley First Nation, band designate Angelica (Chile) Dale says, "We recruited several amazing volunteers through the website. We also had some returnees sign up again and lots of community members reach out.”

If you are an organization looking to connect with potential volunteers, please visit the site, click Organizations in Need of Volunteers, and create your profile, or contact the coordinator at [email protected]. If you are searching for a volunteer opportunity, visit and browse the site anytime. New listings are added weekly.