November 2005 The e-Newsletter of the Toronto Volunteer Bridge

Come out and make a difference with TVB and Habitat for Humanity!

On Saturday, December 3rd, the Toronto Volunteer Bridge and Habitat for Humanity are teaming up to make a difference in the lives of families in need right here in Toronto. Click here for more info about Habitat for Humanity.

If you've never been at a Habitat for Humanity build, it is amazing. Crew leaders instruct volunteers in how to frame up walls, put up insulation and drywall. They teach techniques for siding, and roofing, as well as interior work like sanding and painting. And the best part is there's no experience required!

The December 3 event runs from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The event will take place at the Rotary Drive build-site, which is located at 38 St. Lawrence Street, near King Street East and Cherry Street, close to the Distillery District in downtown Toronto. Since the mission of TVB is not only to get involved but to build a community of volunteers, we will be planning on finishing off a fun-filled day of building by going out and having a bite to eat and socializing over a couple of drinks.

There are a few things to keep in mind, however, when you sign up for the event.

Clothing:

Habitat Toronto builds rain, snow, or shine so dress for the weather and wear layers that you can add/remove. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing that you don't mind getting dirty. Long pants are recommended to minimize splinters and scrapes as are extra socks to ensure your boots fit well and that your feet are warm. Unfortunately, there is no safe place to store personal belongings; please leave valuables at home.

Meals:

Habitat will provide a pizza lunch for us if we can raise $50 per person. Water, coffee and light snacks are provided and available throughout the day, however, we also encourage you to bring a thermos full of a hot drink such as tea, hot chocolate, or soup if the forecast calls for cold or wet weather. FYI - Habitat told me that there is no minimum or maximum fundraising goal, but by raising at least $50 per person, Habitat will supply lunch and a commemorative t-shirt on the day of the build to celebrate our achievement. Scott will send pledge forms to those participating in case they want to raise funds.

Safety Gear:

  1. Footwear - Certified safety shoes/boots are mandatory (they must have a green patch which means puncture proof). While Habitat has a good selection of boots for volunteers to borrow, we cannot guarantee sizes. Stores such as Walmart, Zellers and Payless sell boots. ISECO offers a 20% discount to Habitat volunteers with the presentation of this letter as confirmation of a scheduled shift.


  2. Hard Hats and Work Gloves - These are provided although feel free to bring your own if you wish. Hard hats and work boots are mandatory and must be worn at all times


  3. Safety Glasses and Masks - These are provided if required for the tasks, although again, feel free to bring your own if you wish.
If you are interested in participating in this event, please email Scott Lawrence at scott@volunteerbridge.ca or call him at 416.868.5090.
What are we doing right?

What could TVB do better?

What are you looking for in a volunteering opportunity?

Want to get involved with TVB?

For any of these issues, or any others that come to mind, please let us know by e-mail at info@volunteerbridge.ca or by phone at 416-957-8029.

Toronto Volunteer Bridge is an entirely volunteer-run organization. All of us are 25-35 years old and live and work across the GTA. TVB is a registered charity.

If you or your company are interested in sponsoring TVB, please e-mail us at sponsor@volunteerbridge.ca.

>> Contact Us   >> Send to a Friend   >> Subscribe   >> Unsubscribe   >> Privacy Policy