As communities across the region mark National Volunteer Week, Volunteer Elgin is highlighting its ongoing efforts to strengthen volunteer connections across Elgin County with an upcoming Volunteer Fair.
Volunteer Elgin is a volunteer-led, non-profit organization focused on linking residents with opportunities to give back while helping local groups find the support they need.
The organization originally began in an earlier form as far back as 2017, but momentum stalled during the pandemic as volunteer needs shifted.
Communications Chair, Catherine Harrison, explains that’s when a small group of local organizations came together with a renewed focus on rebuilding that connection between people and opportunities.
Since its relaunch, Volunteer Elgin has grown to nearly 20 member organizations from the original 10, expanding its reach and strengthening its countywide approach to volunteer coordination. One way they do this, explains Harrision, is through its Online Volunteer Portal.
But as Harrision adds, the need for support has only grown more urgent, with many groups still recovering from declining volunteer participation since the pandemic, alongside long-term challenges such as an aging volunteer base and increased demand for services.
To help address that, Volunteer Elgin is hosting its second annual Volunteer Fair this Saturday at the St. Thomas Public Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., bringing together more than 18 organizations under one roof, offering residents a chance to meet directly with groups in need of support.
The fair is designed for everyone, from students needing volunteer hours to retirees looking for meaningful engagement, to residents simply hoping to reconnect with their community.
Those interested can explore opportunities ahead of the fair or at any time through the Volunteer Elgin portal at volunteerelgin.org.
Written by: Kennedy Freeman
