Volunteering in Sarnia-Lambton
VOLUNTEERING: A Great Way To Grow
Movement can be a lot more fun as a group but many seniors are unable to follow the intensity of a regular aerobics or other fitness class. SMART classes are designed for seniors whether they need to complete the exercises in a chair, are able to stand and move or require a balance between the two. VON will provide training and support for volunteers willing to lead a class in an apartment building, church or other facility close to where seniors live!
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.
The Manor Auxiliary is currently looking for members to join the team. Members attend a monthly meeting, assist with activities in the Home, assist with fundraising and work in the tuck shop. For more information: please call Marg Maltin President 519-542-8296 or Lee Ann Woollings 519-381-8185
Our Adult Day Program benefits adults with Alzheimer Disease, dementia or cognitive impairment living in the community. Programming is based on the principles of Montessori Methods for Dementia to provide a safe, error free environment focusing on people and not disabilities. It takes place in a pleasant, homelike environment with a comfortable living room, dining room and patio for summer activities and BBQ. Volunteers interact with participants throughout the day and assist them in the various activities. They also assist the staff in set-up and clean-up throughout the day. Volunteers may come for a couple of hours or stay the whole day. We are currently looking for volunteers available Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday.
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).
We are currently looking for volunteers that can help with pre-scheduled shifts at Jackpot Time. We require 2 volunteers for each shift. Scheduled hours are 7 days a week from 10a-12a, with the most help needed Monday to Friday during days (10a-4p).
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
Literacy Lambton is always looking for our next team of Train Your Brain site volunteers.
This program is offered in eight-week sessions.
Fall (October-November), Winter (mid-January- March Break), and Spring (post-March break- May long weekend)
It happens one night per week from 6-7:30pm.
Usually Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday nights at various sites that rotate around Lambton County
What will you do?
Your mission: to up the fun and help our young brainiacs to flex their math & reading muscle and gain a confident approach to learning
You will support the program’s Head Coach in a number of ways:
– program set up or tear down and activity preparation
– facilitating drop off/pick up time by welcoming or sending off participants
– working one-to-one or in small groups with children playing games, reading, doing physical activities that reinforce the math and reading skills they are learning in school
Interested?
Apply at www.literacylambton.org/volunteer
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.
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!