Whether you're a student looking for a place to volunteer or the family member of an older adult who would benefit from at-home care,
VON Canada offers a wide range of programs and services that could be useful to you. VON is Canada's only national non-profit home and community care organization and has been providing quality service for over 115 years. With 24 different locations across Ontario including the Greater Toronto Area, London, Ottawa, Hamilton, and Niagara, their goal is to help Canadians reach a state of health and wellbeing.
One of the programs VON offers is “
Friendly Visiting”, where a VON volunteer is matched with a senior adult or person with a disability for one-on-one visits inside or outside of the client's home. This is an ideal option for older adults who are lonely and would like to participate in more activities, or potential volunteers looking to make a vast difference in someone's life.
I've been volunteering in the friendly visitor position at the
Middlesex-Elgin location in
London Ontario since December, and my experience has been great so far. The staff there is extremely professional and passionate, and they assigned me to a client who is a perfect match for me.
I visit her about once a week and usually visit her at her home just to give her a friend to talk to; we sometimes also go out shopping or run errands together. She is an older woman who has been through a lot in her life, and every time I visit her I'm inspired by her ability to remain optimistic and happy no matter what her circumstances. The more I get to know her, the more I realize her strength and perseverance is teaching me lessons that I'll take with me for the rest of my life. She is constantly telling me how happy she is to see me and how grateful she is that VON in London assigned her to be matched with me.
This is the most rewarding volunteer experience I've had, and the one-on-one time we spend together is mutually beneficial. I plan to continue volunteering in this position and would highly recommend it. I think it's important to note that with a friendly visitor position (or any
volunteer position at VON), you can contact their staff at any time should you feel uncomfortable or any problems arise. It is clear to me that my safety and contentedness is a priority, and although a problem has never arisen for me, I feel confident that they would handle any situation fairly.
My friend volunteers with instructors in the
SMART Exercise Program VON offers. SMART (Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together) exercise clinics have high, mid, and low mobility exercise classes for seniors or adults with a disability and are designed to improve balance, cardiovascular health, strength, and sense of well-being. This program is also available at the Middlesex-Elgin location in London. My friend and I both began volunteering with VON when we passed by their office in Cherryhill Mall located at 301 Oxford Street West. She likes her position as well, and the participants thoroughly enjoy the classes.
If you're interested in volunteering at VON, you can visit the Cherryhill location and speak to someone directly or open
this link and submit the form at the bottom of the page. A VON representative will contact you and help you get started!
