As the summer months come to a close and autumn quietly approaches, families are ready to kick off the vibrant festivities. Engaging in the community and volunteering is one way to do that by connecting with others and taking part in causes that they love and care about. Volunteering has many benefits, including making meaningful connections, becoming an active community member, and learning new skills. VolunteerConnector has created this opportunity to connect through our online platform, which has built a community empowering volunteerism across Canada through online digital solutions. You can pick from a wide range of activities that fit you and your family’s desired outing.
1. First, assess your schedule. What type of time and schedule do you have? Is there a regular time slot each week that you have available for something to fit in? Or would something with flexibility work for you?
2. Secondly, think about your areas of interest. What causes do you care about? There are hundreds of organizations in Calgary alone, all doing great work in the community. So, it is up to you to decide the area that most aligns with your family values.
Once you have gone through this guide, visit volunteerconnector.org, where you will see hundreds of opportunities across Canada. New opportunities are being added to the platform each day. From there, you can sort and filter out opportunities to see what works best for your family. This works by entering specific keywords, time commitments, proximity, and more, making it suitable for you and your family to search for these opportunities in the comfort of your own home. VolunteerConnector even has an option where you can pick opportunities that are “good for families,” making your search even simpler.
These are a few ideas that can help you decide on activities that you and your family can enjoy during the autumn season:
Food banks and meal prep. Many organizations in Calgary are giving back to the community by providing food to those in need. Families can participate in these initiatives for other less fortunate families. For example, Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids has many volunteer positions for Central Kitchen Volunteers, open to help make a difference in children’s lives.
Charity walks and runs. Many families and organizations give back to their community by participating in charity-led walks or runs. There are numerous setups across Calgary this fall season. The Terry Fox Foundation has provided openings for individuals and families to be School Run Ambassadors, by travelling and presenting to schools to boost high fundraising efforts and make it a fun and exciting event.
Fall events and festivals. Especially during the fall season, there are numerous events and festivals happening across the city, where families can volunteer. It is important to check the VolunteerConnector site and social media to see new opportunities available.
Other great ideas include animal shelter support, visiting seniors, tutoring, crafting for a cause, DIY drives, making care kits, bake sales or family fundraisers, clothing or toy drives, holiday hampers, tree planting, recycling drives, and more.
There are many organizations offering volunteer opportunities for you and your family to begin your journey this fall. While each organization has their own unique policies when it comes to volunteering, some have never considered families to take part. When families do take part, it creates meaningful ways to come together like never before.
If you need help finding an opportunity that works for you, do not hesitate to get in touch at
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