Have you considered how much volunteers enrich our lives, not only during a crisis, but everyday? It's amazing to discover how most volunteers tend to be 'invisible'. Did you know there are volunteers coaching high school sports (not including the teachers); volunteers at convalescent homes teaching gardening; volunteers answering phones to book Blood Donation appointments; volunteers co-ordinating driving seniors to appointments and back home? You might be astounded as to the range of volunteer activities available. This is something to consider for those who want to expand their expertise...
Recently, an anti-poverty association was looking for someone to co-ordinate their bi-monthly newsletter and they were willing to TRAIN the volunteer on desktop publishing programs. That's a skill that could cost a few hundred dollars to learn through a software trainer, but as a benefit to volunteering, not only would one be helping out, they would learn a new skill and also gain 'on-the-job' experience. Something for local charities and local businesses to consider in the lean times. Companies may not have the same amount of funds available to provide donations to local charities, yet local charities still need resources. In the age of creating sustainable communities, perhaps companies could look to allowing staff time for volunteering; and charities could look to the 'benefits' they could offer companies. By working together as partners, the company will benefit, the staff will benefit, the charity will benefit and you'll be able to boast a Corporate Social Responsibility philosophy that's more than a mission statement on the company website.
For more info on Canadian volunteering statistics: http://www.givingandvolunteering.ca/pdf/CSGVP_Highlights_2004_en.pdf
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