Volunteer Opportunities at Empower Simcoe

Matching you with an adult with a developmental disability. As a friendly visitor, you will meet one-on-one with the individuals we support for one to two hours weekly (or on a different schedule, as decided). Volunteers provide a personal, continuous one-to-one relationship with the individuals we support through visits over coffee, friendly outings, doing activities, reading, etc.  Friendly visits help to build social skills such as communication and friendliness and also help to keep individuals engaged throughout the week.

Duties:

• Provide support through friendship
• Arrange in advance for a suitable time to visit
• Be punctual and dependable for each visit
• Maintain confidentiality of client information
• Report promptly any problems or concerns to the Program Supervisor
• Take the person supported on short outings, as agreed upon by the Program Supervisor

Volunteers can bring their own skills and experience to a volunteer role. Motivations for volunteering are diverse. While some aim to learn new skills and aptitudes through volunteering, others seek to apply their specialized skills in their volunteer role.  Today, more and more people wish to apply specific skills to their volunteer work. Doing so can help hone those skills. And it can be great experience to put on a résumé. At the same time, the Empower Simcoe benefits from expert input. Skills-based volunteering benefits the volunteer, our organization and the community. Examples of skills-based volunteer opportunities include piano-playing (or any other instruments), teaching, literacy, arts and crafts, dancing, music, etc.

Duties:

• Decide in what manner you’d like to volunteer (eg. Do a music performance for individuals, teach individuals, visit once a month, once a week etc.)
• Provide an engaging experience to individuals through your expertise
• Arrange in advance for a suitable schedule
• Be punctual and dependable for each session
• Maintain confidentiality of people’s information
• Report promptly any problems or concerns to the Program Supervisor

Members come from all walks of life, are community minded and share a commitment to the Mission, Vision and Principles of Empower Simcoe. Board members are elected by the membership to a three (3) year term and give voluntarily of their time to provide governance and oversight to the agency and its Foundation.

Time Commitment

• Approximately 3 hours a month

You will have the opportunity to help our Empower Simcoe team execute top-quality events for our communities including an annual Celebrating Community Champions Fashion Show and annual Golf Tournament. Special event volunteer opportunities are “one-offs” in which volunteers are required to only commit for the event day. During the event, volunteers will be assigned various activities which will collectively ensure that the event runs smoothly.

Duties:

• Work independently or as part of a team
• Be able to effectively problem solve on the spot
• Feel comfortable working in large crowd environments
• Friendly, outgoing, and approachable personality
• Ability to volunteer evenings and weekends
• Be punctual and dependable for each event

You have the opportunity to assist in charitable fundraising for our Empower Simcoe Foundation through the Barrie Bingo Sponsors Association’s partnership at Delta Bingo and Gaming in Barrie.   Empower Simcoe Foundation’s two-hour Bingo sessions are scheduled bi-weekly (every other Thursday afternoon from 1pm – 3pm). Volunteers are required to commit to Bingo sessions on a rotating basis with other volunteers as availability permits.

Duties:

• Work with another volunteer as part of a tandem team
• Adhere to the Barrie Bingo Sponsors Association dress code (Empower Simcoe golf shirts are provided)
• Feel comfortable working in a Gaming environment
• Friendly, outgoing, and approachable personality
• Ability to volunteer weekday afternoons
• Be punctual and dependable for each scheduled Bingo session

As a volunteer driver, you would be assisting the people and families we support to travel to medical appointments, treatments, community services, shopping or social and recreational activities.  You’ll be there to offer assistance and make sure they get home safely. With the kindness and support of volunteer drivers, the people and families we support at Empower Simcoe can focus on their health and needs in the community, not their transportation.  Volunteer drivers do not receive payment for their time – this is their generous gift to the community.  Empower Simcoe volunteer drivers receive a reimbursement of mileage.

Duties:

• Drivers are licensed to drive in Ontario, and carry up to date insurance
• License and insurance records are updated annually
• Be punctual and dependable
• Friendly, outgoing, and approachable personality
• Have a flexible schedule to accommodate day or evening travel
• Have a clean, reliable and safe vehicle

Volunteers are welcome to assist us during regular business hours at our Empower Simcoe Administration Offices in Barrie and Orillia.  Training is provided for each individual task by staff.  The time commitment is flexible.

Duties:

• Reception
• Mailing and copying for events
• Large work projects
• Friendly, outgoing, and approachable personality

Do you like to read to children? Are you a storyteller?  Maybe you enjoy singing, dancing, playing or simply spending time with young children? How about assisting with snack time for children in the Centre’s kitchen?  Share your special talent or interest as a volunteer with any one of our 3 EarlyON Child and Family Centres or satellites.

Duties:

• Provide an engaging experience to children and families through your expertise
• Available during the weekday hours of the EarlyON Centres
• Be punctual and dependable for each session
• Maintain confidentiality of people’s information
• Report promptly any problems or concerns to the Program Supervisor

Volunteers will provide recreational assistance for teens and youth who have an intellectual disability.  Volunteers involved in this program will support staff as they support small groups to participate in a variety of community activities including sports, movies, sight-seeing, games nights and more.  This is a perfect opportunity for youth aged 16 – 21.

Duties:

• Provide an engaging experience to teens and youth
• Confident in their abilities to direct youth and willing to learn each person’s unique method of communication
• Be punctual and dependable for each session
• Maintain confidentiality of people’s information
• Report promptly any problems or concerns to the Program Supervisor

A volunteer Respitality Aide will support the Respite Coordinator with Empower Simcoe’s Respitality Program. The Respitality Program supports Caregivers in Simcoe County who are caring for an individual with an intellectual disability.

Duties:

• Pick up of donations from businesses across Simcoe County
• Pick up and purchase supplies
• Delivery of gift baskets and packages to Caregivers as well as venues across Simcoe County
• Assembling of gift baskets
• Phone calls to Caregivers participating in Respitality
• Creation of donor recognition certificates
• Research of businesses in Simcoe County that may benefit the Respitality Program

Requirements:

• A valid “Class G” driver’s license and reliable transportation are considered an asset
• Ability to commit and follow through on dates of availability
• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• Detail oriented
• Computer and telephone proficient
• Creative
• Will maintain confidentiality of privileged information