With the help of the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, Paul A. MacDonald gained a new lease on life, and now the 48-year-old is helping the organization do the same for others.
Several times each week he volunteers his time to assist with computer courses offered by the non-profit agency. The classes teach basic computer skills to those with disabilities in an effort to increase their employability skills.
It was just five short years ago that MacDonald was on the learning end of those classes. Depressed and coping with a new disability, he decided it was time to improve his life and despite already having some computer skills, he enrolled in the class as a way to achieve that goal. After attending just several of the lessons, he realized what it was he needed to turn his life around.
"While taking the course I had my first big epiphany, you might say -- I found I was having more fun helping people in my row than I was doing my own work," said MacDonald.
After completing just half of the course, he approached the organization's volunteer coordinator to inquire about becoming a full-fledged volunteer, and after five years of donating his time as a computer classroom assistant, he hasn't looked back. He says that giving back to the organization was just a small part of why he chose to volunteer. Mostly, he said he volunteers several times each week simply for the joy he gets out of it.
Fellow volunteer Stella Olson can understand his passion for the organization. A long-time foster parent, she has opened her home to too many children to count -- many of them with special needs.
"SMD did quite a lot for us with these kids and they still are continuing to do so," explained Olson, a palliative care nurse, who also raised three children or her own.
A special events volunteer, she assists with many of the charity's fundraising events, selling lottery tickets and doing administrative work. In addition to the funds raised by the work she does, she said it's also beneficial for herself allowing her to escape her busy home and work life.
"Doing something like this kind of makes you forget. My job is stressful. It just helps you with everyday life."
For more information about the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities or to become a volunteer please contact Tiffany Monkman at 975-3023. You can also visit the organization online at www.smd.mb.ca.
If you know a special volunteer who strives to make their community a better place to live please contact Erin Madden at erinmadden@shaw.ca.
Volunteers Needed
The following is a list of volunteer opportunities advertised in the Winnipeg area. For more information about these listings, please contact the person/organization directly; you may call Volunteer Manitoba at 477-5180, ext. 225, e-mail vmreferral@mts.net or www.volunteermanitoba.ca.
Frail and Elderly Senior Social Club in Windsor Park which meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays needs volunteers; no heavy lifting involved, club members are mentally and verbally alert and quite mobile. Help the seniors by preparing, serving and cleaning up after lunch and snacks, playing card games and/or bocce ball, shuffleboard, bean bag toss, singing old-time songs, etc., with them. Fundraising person needed (can work independently), to help board members' efforts, contact funding agencies, new ideas. Board members; meetings quarterly, and as needed. Call 256-8712 ask for Jay Spicer or answering machine, choose "High Steppers Club."
Looking for a rewarding winter volunteer opportunity that involves a one-hour commitment per week and that allows you to meet people from around the world? The English Language Centre at the University of Manitoba needs language partners who are willing to meet and visit with international students. By helping them practice their listening and speaking skills, you can increase a student's opportunity to succeed, while learning about another culture. This is an excellent way to make a difference. Call Nancy Chislett, 480-1478 or e-mail chislett@cc.umanitoba.ca.
Shakespeare in the Ruins, celebrating 15 years of Manitoba's professional Shakespearean theatre company, needs volunteers as follows: board members with fundraising and development skills, a person with office experience to work 15-20 hours per month and ushers to work during performances. Call Laura, 957-1753 or www.shakespeareintheruins.com.
Russian-speaking volunteer: Rupert's Land Caregiver Services a non-profit organization that supports family caregivers of older adults looking for a Russian-speaking volunteer for their "Time-out for Caregivers Program" to visit with a Russian-speaking gentleman for 2-3 hours per week, giving his caregiver a break. Call 452-9491.
Age & Opportunity requires an administrative assistant for Monday mornings at a busy centre in north Winnipeg. Duties include: front desk reception, sale of tickets and communicating with members. Also, a volunteer is required to provide information/referral services to incoming inquiries and to assist with office duties at an easy to access downtown location. Volunteer must have previous office experience and be able to relate to the public in a sensitive and courteous manner. Position is available Fridays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. "Summertime and the living is easy" -- become a friendly visiting volunteer. Call Dianne, 956-6440.
River East Meal Program looking for volunteers to assist with their noon meal, Monday, Wednesday or Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Call Debbie, 667-6812. North Kildonan area.
St. James Assiniboia Neighbourhood Resource Network needs volunteers to care for children up to 5 years old while their mother's are in a program, for two to two and a half hour per session; they also need drivers to pick up and drop off mothers and their children who attend programs. Call Fatime or Lee, 831-7405 or st.mames-diversity@hotmail.com.
Winnipeg Fringe Festival is looking for a large number of volunteers for their annual which runs from July 16-27. Volunteers are needed to sell tickets, usher, beverage pavilion assistants, Kids Fringe supervisors, and many more duties. Call David, 956-1340 ext. 249 or volunteercoordinator@winnipegfringe.com.
Coalition to Save the Elms needs volunteers to put up posters around the city to advertise their annual Arbor Day event at Assiniboine Park that will take place on June 15. They also need Special Event Volunteers at the park on that day to help with set up, clean up, oversee inflatable children's bouncers, organize displays and more. Call Heather, 775-6642 or elms_office@mts.net.
Manitoba Blind Sports Association needs Guides/Coaches to assist golfers with ball placement, club selection, body positioning and golf course management. Volunteers may also be requested to assist with transportation to and from the golf course. Days and times May 24, 31, and June 7, 9:15-10:30 a.m. and June 14; noon-6 p.m. Call Cathy, 925-5694 or blindsport@shawbiz.ca.
Manitoba Marathon is currently looking for volunteers to help along the course or to become part of the planning process. If you are a fun person who likes organizing events or just want to come out and volunteer for the day they would like to have you on board. Call 925-5748 or www.manitobamarathon.mb.ca.
St. James Assiniboia Senior Centre is seeking two volunteers to serve on its Board of Directors. The positions are: Director of Fund Development and Director of Communications. The Centre provides programs and services in the community for those 55+. Call Adele, 987-8858.
Winnipeg Harvest needs the following volunteers: drivers to pick up and deliver food to over 300 agencies; order fillers to process orders for clients; referral to manage their food crisis line; group hosts to assist with tours and activities for groups. Call Gary, 982-3587 or gary.mcghee@winnipegharvest.org.
Canadian Red Cross Society - Winnipeg Region needs volunteers for the following duties: front desk receptionist to answer the telephone, greet visitors and other general office duties; prevention educators to provide child abuse and relationship violence prevention education to adolescents and community groups; disaster campaign volunteers to provide a registration and injury service that reunites families separated by disaster. Call Laverne at 982-6731 or Laverne.Leenhouts@redcross.ca.
Manitoba Society of Seniors Inc. in partnership with Manitoba Hydro is looking for volunteers to participate in their WISE home energy program. Volunteers will assist Manitoba seniors in reducing energy and water consumption through the installation of energy saving devices and delivery of educational talks on conservation and options; this will involve in-home visits and installation of basic services. Call Kelly, 479-0320 or wisecoordinator@msos.mb.ca.
Host Family Volunteers Urgently Needed. World Heritage is seeking families, couples or single parents (with or without children at home) who are adventurous, fun-loving, responsible, and most of all caring who are interested in hosting a high-school-aged foreign exchange student. By hosting a student from another country, your entire family will discover a world of fun and enlightening adventure. Students who spend a year in Canada are fulfilling a lifetime dream. Canadian culture plays an important role all over the world; the English language is the international language of our times. Share your home for a year; enjoy a friendship for a lifetime! Call 1-866-761-0131
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