National Volunteer Week (NVW), May 15-21, is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering and will this year feature the theme, ‘The Change Makers’.
The week-long event recognises the vital support that the millions of volunteers in our country provide to their communities and encourages people to consider volunteering.
Auburn’s Western Sydney Community Centre site manager Amira Shahid says they are always looking for volunteers.
“Our volunteers work on our front desk, help us pack and distribute food to the needy, distribute vouchers to help with electricity and gas payments and even teach Arabic lessons to the young,” she said.
“Volunteering is good for you and can often lead to paid work.”
Turbans 4 Australia founder Amar Singh says the Clyde-based facility would not function without volunteers.
“We have 30 to 40 volunteers a day helping us with ordering and delivering our food packs and personal care items here plus we are still providing flood relief support to the Lismore area,” he said.
“Volunteers are the backbone of our organisation and we always need more; it’s a good feeling to help and mix with other cultures, everyone gets along so well and it’s not like they’re paid to be with us.
“We are just all on a mission to help society become a better place.”
Granville Waratahs SFC president Noel Dona says no sports club ever has enough volunteers.
“We’ve been blessed this year to have who we do – all the 28 coaches and team managers not mention those on canteen duty and others who help us set up and pack up,” he said.
“I would say to people thinking of volunteering, to get involved, be a ‘change maker’ and part of the solution for your community’s needs.”
