The Kitimat Chamber of Commerce is rolling out a novel event tailored to bolster community engagement and match people’s skills and abilities with local volunteer organisations.
“It’s like a mini tradeshow for volunteerrism,” said Laurel D’Andrea, the Chamber’s executive director.
Scheduled for March 23, the 1st Annual Volunteer Fair is an open invitation to individuals from all background to explore opportunities to contribute to local causes. Community organizations will be present in force, operating booths to explain their missions and scout for potential volunteers, assessing the skills on offer and the availability of those willing to serve.
“So many people think that volunteering is just sitting on a board of directors,” D’Andrea said. “But maybe there’s an organization that needs help running a beer garden for a special event, or maybe some people are more introverted and they like to knit, which the hospital auxiliary could use those knitted items for fundraising sales.”
Inspiration for the fair came from D’Andrea’s previous experiences in Kelowna, where she witnessed the positive impact of a similar event. Motivated by those outcomes, she has spearheaded the Kitimat edition, aiming to replicate and build upon that success.
The fair will also serve as a grounds for networking among organizations to learn more about one another and their needs. Seometimes, D’Andrea noted, a volunteer might be underutilized with one organization, but in demand with another. “Let’s say it’s a bookkeeper. This kind of networking allows them to share that valuable resource, that volunteer.”
In addition to the fair, the Chamber will also be creating an online directory for matching volunteer needs with available local talent. This digital platform will allow organizations to directly update their volunteer requirements, ensuring the information remains current.