Volunteering in Sarnia-Lambton
VOLUNTEERING: A Great Way To Grow
The Actor Program is a program within the division Academic Excellence and Teaching Innovation, within the Centre for Simulation and Experiential Learning at Lambton College. A Standardized Participant (SP) is an individual who has a willingness to work with students and share their authentic experiences. Volunteers are not required to have a medical condition in order to participate. These volunteers provide faculty and students opportunities to teach, assess, and refine a variety of skills, including communication, interview, diagnostic, and clinical skills.
Students are beginning their learning and use interview skills to examine the health, social, and psychological aspects of a volunteer’s experience with health (either their own or if they have acted as a caregiver). Participants control the depth of information they provide and students, bound by the Health Professional’s Code of Ethics, must keep all video and print information in the strictest of confidence. The use of pseudonyms is required in any written work that the students submit to the supervising faculty.
The Actor Program is a fundamental resource for the curriculum. Our goal is to provide hands-on learning in controlled, simulated environments for our students. Working with standardized participants or SPs allows students to learn and explore a variety of techniques without causing harm.
Duties Include:
For high school students these activities can contribute towards the mandatory community service hours required for graduation.
Post-secondary students at institutions like Lambton College, volunteering can earn credits for their Co-Curricular Record (CCR).
This is a meaty role where you can make a tremendous impact on the lives of other adults through education.
Ask yourself:
Would friends, colleagues, and other people close to you describe you as kind, patient, empathetic?
Do you easily build relationships because of your strong communication and interpersonal skills?
Does it set you on fire to help and see others succeed?
If so, this role might be a fit for you. Our volunteer mentors are generally mature adults (age 25+). They come from all professional backgrounds; many have no formal teaching experience. They each bring special talents:
– strong proficiency in reading or writing
– enjoy teaching math or excellent knowledge of math used on trades job sites ie. imperial measurement, trigonometry, geometry, reading blueprints, mechanical aptitude
– keen interests in certain course topics to work through high school course credits
– digitally savvy and comfortable using/teaching Microsoft software
– experience using digital tools like tablets and smartphones and their capabilities
– strong financial background and able to teach financial literacy basics
What will you do?
– matched with an adult learner 18+ for one-to-one, personalized instruction
– create engaging lesson plans and resources to make learning enjoyable and effective- supported by Literacy Lambton’s instruction team
– bring a positive attitude to boost learner confidence and motivation
Interested?
Apply at www.literacylambton.org/volunteer
All volunteers undergo an interview and on-boarding process.
Clear police/vulnerable sector record check is required as well as the completion of online training ie. AODA
Second interview with adult instruction team will ensure strong matches for both mentor and learners
You can live in a building with lots of other people around and still be very lonely and isolated. A team of two group visiting leaders go into a building where a lot of seniors live and lead scheduled times of guided discussion. The aim is to assist them in getting to know one another and build friendships with those around them.
Many seniors are not able to get out of their home to exercise or attend fitness classes. SMART volunteers visit a senior in their home once a week for twelve weeks to complete a simple exercise routine of set stretches and exercises that have been designed to prevent falls. There is no floor work or exercises with weights. Clients are expected to complete the exercise regime at least once on their own between visits. By the end of the twelve weeks clients have established an exercise routine that they can accomplish independently and safely!
Our Footcare volunteers welcome the patients, answer their questions, write receipts and book a next appointment for them. They interact with the patient, making it a pleasant and social experience for them, while they wait for their turn to see the nurse.
Jackpot Time Bingo in Sarnia is a supporter of the VON. Each month we provide volunteers to serve the patrons at one or two Bingos. We are currently in need of two volunteers to represent VON by serving at these Bingos. Training will be provided.
It’s been a lonely couple of years for many people but especially our senior population. It’s finally time to start visiting again! Would you be willing to visit a lonely and isolated senior on a weekly basis? Right now you can only visit them in their home but as restrictions lesson you can take them out to help with errands, go for a drive, or have a cuppa joe. Our clients have lived productive lives but now find themselves alone and staring at the walls, unable to get out without a friend. They have much to offer someone who takes time to listen!
We provide telephone visits to individuals who are waiting for a volunteer visitor to come to their home weekly. Volunteers simply call to have a chat and keep in touch. Calls may vary from 5-30 minutes depending on the individuals and situation. Telephone visitors call at least twice a month but if the client is lonely they may call as often as twice a week. Volunteers may choose to have from one to six clients on their call list and call the same people each month to establish a relationship.
Members of the Foundation Board provide strategic leadership to VON by committing to excellence in advocacy and supporting VON to achieve its important vision and mission. Board members oversee the VON Foundation, participate in fund-raising events and work to increase the visibility and knowledge of VON in the community.
Whether caring for a loved one who has dementia or another medical condition, caregivers often hesitate or simply cannot leave their loved ones alone. Our respite visitors visit the home once a week to provide a couple of hours of respite so the caregiver can freely get out to do whatever will re-energize them! Volunteers do not provide medical care but are watchful eyes and ears to summon help if needed. Depending on the health status of the client they may stay in and visit, play cards, go for a walk, do some shopping, have coffee or even take a trip to the bridge!