Pitch In by Pitching a Tent!
There’s still time to signup for this great event!
On September 10-11, thousands of women and men will unite by walking 60 km through the neighbourhoods of Toronto as a display of their courage and commitment. It’s a weekend of hope, as we honour lives lost, celebrate survivors, and help raise funds to bring breast cancer care to those who so desperately need it.
Volunteers are needed to help set-up and take-down tents for walkers taking part in the event that will be camping overnight at Downsview Park. In particular, we’re recruiting volunteers for Saturday, September 10th from 8am to 1pm to help put up the tents. If you’ve never touched a tent before, it’s no problem. We can show you how in about 2 minutes! It’s a fun time, with lots of chances to socialize and meet new people. Volunteers are also needed on Sunday, September 11th from 11am to 5pm to take down tents, but we won’t have TVB representation at that time.
Currently, there are nine TVB members signed up to volunteer at this fantastic event, and it’d be great to add as many as possible. Last year we had a great turnout of volunteers to help with the tents on the Saturday morning, which made for a fun, relaxing, social morning and we followed up with lunch. This will be a relaxed weekend where you can meet some great new people while helping out with an incredible cause. We hope to see you out there!
If you are interested in participating in this event, please email Scott Lawrence at scott@volunteerbridge.ca or call him at 416.804.4754.
Sand Dune Planting!
 On Saturday, September 24th, TVB is once again partnering up with the Toronto Bay Initiative to help maintain the gorgeous Toronto landscape. The Hanlan’s Point sand dunes are beautiful, rare and fragile – and they need your help! Join us as we plant trees, shrubs and plants to restore and preserve these unique landforms. More information is available on the TBI website – www.torontobay.net.
The event runs from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. (the ferry leaves for Hanlan’s Point on the Toronto Island at 10:00 a.m. sharp and is free for volunteers!) After a morning of working outside, we plan on going out for a bite to eat and some friendly conversation. If you are available to come out and lend a hand, please give Scott Lawrence a call at 416.804.4754 or email him at scott@volunteerbridge.ca.
TVB Helps Keep Toronto Beautiful!
On August 14th, a group of TVBers made their way out to Toronto’s newest wetland, at the foot of Spadina Avenue, in an effort to keep Toronto beautiful. The gang helped pick up litter as well as remove pesky, non-native weeds and plants, like Queen Anne’s Lace and clover. And like most TVB events, the group got together for drinks afterwards to get to know one another and socialize.
Thanks to all the volunteers who attended this event, especially new-comers Peter Rajah, Maria Salazar, Caren Fields, and Maggie Fanari.
TVB Keeps Up The Pace at The Bell City Chase!
On Saturday, August 27th, Toronto was host to the Bell City Chase, where teams of two experienced a variety of challenges throughout the city while competing for prizes. TVB volunteers helped man checkpoints, such as the ‘Photo Hut’. This check point required competitors to use Bell Camera Phones to take a number of wild pictures from a checklist, including a non-participant kissing a participant on the lips. Another check point required participants to burn 300 calories at a local Goodlife Fitness Centre as fast as possible.
The event was very well organized, and made for an extremely fun-filled afternoon. TVB wants to thank all of those who volunteered, including Sandra Elia, Daniela Mastrolcola, Julia Burton, and Kimberley Spencer.
Partner Spotlight: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto
Our goal at the Toronto Volunteer Bridge is to make it as easy as possible for busy young professionals to get involved in their community. To help do that we offer a bi-monthly Spotlight feature on a current TVB partner organization in our e-Newsletter. The purpose of this is to inform our volunteers of the specific volunteering roles that are available, programs that are fun, and to generate interest in the opportunities that the specific organization has to offer. This month’s spotlight focuses on an organization that is very well known, but has a lot of misconceptions surrounding it: Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Toronto (BBBST).
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto offers a direct service to the community by matching volunteers who serve as friends to children and youth, providing a positive influence in the lives of these young people throughout Toronto. At this moment, there are nearly 500 children, predominately Little Brothers, waiting to be matched with a Big Brother volunteer.
How can you help? BBBST has a reputation of being a very rigid volunteering opportunity, but it’s not. The Original Program asks that Big Brothers or Sisters spend 1-2 hours a week with their Little Brother or Sister, or 2-4 hours bi-weekly. However, they realize that volunteers have busy schedules and if they are away one week on business, that’s not a problem. Maybe you simply give your little Brother a call that week and talk for half an hour. The guideline for the program asks for 2 hours a week, or 4 bi-weekly, but that is not set in stone.
Another lesser known fact about BBBST is that they have more than just the Original Program. They also offer a School Based Program and a Group Based Program. The Group Based Program is a 4 hour program, once a month for six months. The Program assigns a Big Brother or Sister to take a group of 3 youth out on a Saturday afternoon, once a month for a few hours. This opportunity also allows couples to volunteer together!
If you are interested in signing up to volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto you can do so by contacting Mark Grimwood at 416-955-4263 or send him an email at mark@volunteerbridge.ca.
Can’t Make The TVB One-Off? Here’s What Else Is Happening Around Toronto
The Canadian Paraplegic Association of Ontario’s 10th Annual Toronto Wheelchair Relay Challenge: Wheelin’ with Feelin’ - September 18
 This event is CPA Ontario’s biggest annual fundraiser, which largely contributes to the programs and services needed most by the more than seven people injured in Ontario each week. It’s a great day, and food will be provided to all volunteers. So come on out to support a great cause by volunteering on September 18th. For more information, call Lynn Miñeque at 416-422-5644 ext. 221 or email lmineque@cpaont.org.
ScotiaBank Toronto Waterfront Marathon for Charity - September 25
Come out and volunteer! Be part of a great event, support local charities, and all volunteers get a FREE T-shirt! You can help make the Waterfront Marathon, Half or 5k extra special as runners go the distance for an important charity in the community—by running in support of an "Official Charities" or a charity of their choice. For more information, check out the website at http://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com/en/volunteer.htm
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.
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Also of note – if you can’t volunteer this month but can run instead – the Terry Fox Run for cancer research is on Sunday, September 18. There are 12 run sites across Toronto. Click here for more info. |
