Occasionally GiveADamn will bring you stories about United Way Toronto’s member agencies. The first is about St. Stephen’s Community House.

Robert Moisan figures United Way agency St. Stephen’s Community House saved his life.

The kind, humble man first arrived at the Corner Drop-in for homeless and socially isolated adults to fulfill court-ordered community hours. Eight years later, his hours long ago completed, Moisan is a trusted, long-standing volunteer at the drop-in. He says he has no intention of leaving the Kensington neighbourhood agency he now considers his second home. “The people here are a big part of my life,” he says. “I’ve come a long way and I’d probably be dead if it wasn’t for this place. They’ve helped me out so much; I owe them a lot of gratitude.”

St. Stephen’s executive director, Liane Regendanz, smiles when she thinks about the number of people, like Moisan, who have become valued members of the St. Stephen’s family as paid peer workers or volunteers, and she says there are also many staff members who have been with the agency for more than 20 years—including herself.

Regendanz explains there is a real sense of community and belonging that runs throughout their various programs–-from the perinatal program, to the youth arcade, to the many different programs that strengthen families, newcomers, people who are unemployed, the homeless, and seniors–-success comes from being neighbourhood based, in touch with the community, and playing an active role in people’s lives.

And, she says, the flexibility of the United Way’s three year funding means the multi-service agency can respond to emerging needs in the community. This is especially helpful in critical in times like these, or with issues that the United Way can support through innovative ways of intervening. United Way funds many agencies like St. Stephen’s that offer a vital range of services and supports to hundreds of thousands of people every year.

We work to strengthen the 200 agencies and partners in our network to help them meet community needs, and change social conditions by funding services that improve people’s lives. The nearly 50-year-old St. Stephen’s has become an integral part of the downtown west community and an intimate part of the fabric of peoples’ lives.

Robin Griller manages housing and homeless services at the agency, and he explains for many people this is the first place they turn when they are in crisis. “St. Stephen’s is a place where people feel accepted as they are and for who they are,” he says. “We’re a trusted part of the community; we help people get their lives back.”

Regendanz say she can’t imagine what the community would be like if St. Stephen’s wasn’t a part of it, and Moisan agrees: “A lot of people I know couldn’t live without this place. It’s certainly changed my life; it’s like a family here.”

Below are volunteer opportunities that are available at some of United Way Toronto’s member agencies. If you’re interested, please contact the person indicated.

HINCKS DELLCREST CENTRE – Carlton & Parliament

Opportunity:  Gardening Program Assistant. The volunteer will have fun interacting with children and families while teaching and demonstrating gardening. The volunteer assists staff in running this program for families in the neighbourhood and uses their knowledge and experience to assist families in learning about gardening. The program runs Saturdays from May 1 to August 30 from 1:00 to 4:00pm. Beginning indoors with facility tours at Allan Gardens, real gardening will take place outdoors when the weather warms up.

Contact:  Sue Lam, Volunteer Coordinator

Phone:  416-633-0515 ext 111

Email:  slam@hincksdellcrest.org

WEST TORONTO SERVICES FOR SENIORS – Bloor & Lansdowne

Opportunity:  Cyclists for Meals on 2Wheelers. West Toronto Support for Seniors needs Meals on Wheels volunteers to ride hot meals to seniors in the Bloor Lansdowne neighbourhood. Cyclists must be available to deliver meals Monday to Friday between 10:30am and 12:00pm. Routes take approximately 45 minutess to complete and can be adjusted based on skill and fitness level. Meals on 2Wheelers requires you to have a bike (a trailer can be provided).

Contact:  Joanne Alfonsi, Volunteer Coordinator

Phone:  416-653-3535 ext 247

Email:  Jalfonsi@wtss.org

DAVENPORT-PERTH NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE – Davenport & Ossington

Opportunity:  Board Recruitment. The Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre is currently recruiting board members with knowledge and expertise in one or more of the following areas: financial management, fundraising, policy development, human resources, community development, healthcare/Local Health Integration Networks (LHINS), strong strategic thinking skill set, knowledge of Portuguese, Spanish, and Afro Caribbean Communities. There are three spots available for community board members who live within the following boundaries: Bloor Street to the south, the CN/CP rail tracks to the west, Rowntree, Morrison Aves, and St. Clair Ave. W. to the north, Ossington, and Alberta Aves to the east.

Contact:  Courtnay McFarlane

Phone:  416-656-8025 ext 242

Email:  Cmcfarlane@dpnc.ca

SECOND MILE CLUB OF TORONTO - Between Yonge & Bathurst, Lakeshore & St. Clair

Opportunity:  Friendly Visitors. Provide companionship for a senior or disabled adult with similar interests. Meet and visit regularly once per week for an hour. Share stories and news with a client who has become isolated. Go for walks, play games, share the newspaper, or finish a craft or project. Time and day to be arranged with the client; six month minimum commitment.

Contact:  Pauline Hui, Coordinator of Volunteers

Phone:  416-597-0841 ext 225

Email:  smcvol@allstream.net

ST. CHRISTOPHER HOUSE – Queen & Bathurst

Opportunity:  Meeting Place Store Volunteer. The Meeting Place is our drop-in program for homeless community members located at Queen and Bathurst providing supports such as laundry, showers, counselling, advocacy, a community kitchen and First Nations programming. The Meeting Place Store operates to sell the arts and crafts made by homeless and low-income community members and profits made through sales go back to the artist. We are looking for volunteers to help out in operating the store so that store hours can be increased. Volunteers should be available to from 12:00 to 3:00pm and 3:00 to 5:00pm weekdays. The volunteer commitment is three months.

Contact: Meagan Cleary

Phone:  416-532-4828 ext 105

Email: volunteers@stchrishouse.org

Volunteer Toronto is hosting a free movie screening of Us Now, a documentary about mass collaboration on the web and its political potential.

The screening is taking place on Tuesday May 5 at 6 pm, at the Ryerson Library Building Auditorium, 350 Victoria St.

There will be two amazing keynote speakers for this event—author Don Tapscott (Wikinomics) and Mayor David Miller!

The film will be followed by a panel discussion featuring representatives from some of Toronto’s leading social innovation organizations:

• Allyson Hewitt, Director of Social Entrepreneurship, MaRS Discovery District
• Christine Cooper, Executive Director, Family Assoc. for Mental Health Everywhere (FAME)
• Mark Surman, Executive Director, Mozilla Foundation
• Mark Kuznicki, Principal, Remarkk and Co-organizer of ChangeCamp
• Marco Campana, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)

This is a great film and a night not to be missed—and it’s free for you to join us! Check out getinvolved.ca’s coverage of the February screening of Us Now.

Register for your free tickets here: http://webmovie.eventbrite.com

United Way Toronto’s GenNext is proud to be a community partner in this event, which is hosted by UW Member Agency Volunteer Toronto.

There are a number of volunteer opportunities available at the moment - here's how you can get involved!

Community Living Toronto – North York Opportunity: TTC Readiness Volunteer  

Volunteers will help build a foundation of understanding for people with developmental disabilities about public transit. Under the guidance of a teacher and teaching assistant, volunteers will help people with disabilities learn about: TTC maps and understanding north, south, east, and west; safety signs and emergency situations; street signs and pedestrian conduct; how to use a pay phone; how to cross at the lights and the crosswalk; conduct on the TTC; and how to recognize your bus, train or streetcar. Volunteers must commit to 10 full weeks. Minimum age is 16. Saturdays from 1:00pm to 3:00pm starting April 18, for 10 weeks.Contact: Mia McGowan, Volunteer CoordinatorPhone: 416-225-7166 ext 226Email: mmcgowan@cltoronto.ca  

SPRINT – North Toronto Opportunity: Piano Player  

Enjoy filling the air with the sound of music? Have experience leading a sing-along on the piano? Volunteer to lead seniors in enjoying one of their greatest loves—music. Volunteers need strong piano playing skills, experience leading a sing-along, patience, understanding, excellent interpersonal skills, and love and respect for seniors. Minimum one hour per week.

Any day but Saturday; time is flexible. Contact: Abha Govil, Volunteer RecruitmentPhone: 416-481-0669 ext 267Email: a.govil@sprint-homecare.ca  

Davenport Perth Neighbourhood Centre – Toronto  Opportunity: Copy Editor Community Newspaper 

The volunteer position will assist in the production of the paper with editorial planning and/or writing and/or copy editing and/or design. Assets include experience in journalism, communications, graphic design; knowledge or experience with community-based initiatives; exceptional writing and proof-reading skills, knowledge of editorial standards, attention to detail; ability to think creatively and excellent organizational skills; and ability to work in collaboration with others. Good working knowledge of Quark Xpress an asset. Time is flexible. Contact: Gabrielle Langlois, Volunteer Program CoordinatorPhone: 416-656-8025 ext 377Email: glanglois@dpnc.ca 

 ESS Support Services – Etobicoke  Opportunity: Volunteer Visiting 

Provide a weekly social visit to an isolated senior or an adult with a disability in the Etobicoke area. Responsibilities including making a reminder phone call prior to visit; keeping a record of time and duration of all visits & number & duration of phone calls; reporting contact information at the end of each month; and reporting any changes or concerns about the client immediately.

I’ve lived in a few different communities and I’ve always tried to be involved, so when I moved to Toronto last September I started volunteering for different events around the city. 

 In January I started working for CityEvents, an event management company, and began planning FastLane, a modern monthly networking experience for professionals in the GTA. 

 When I came across GenNext, I felt that there was an instant connection with FastLane; I decided that an “In The Community” FastLane event was in order! This would be a great way to expand the FastLane network as well as provide an opportunity for young professionals in attendance to seek out volunteer opportunities in the GTA. 

The event has been in the planning stages for several weeks and it’s now time to get people in the GTA excited! FastLane In The Community will be held April 21st from 6:00pm-9:30pm at Kultura, 169 King St East.  Get your friends and colleagues out and show why you Give A Damn about Toronto and the United Way!