Consider becoming a volunteer

Winston Churchill said, “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”

More than 40 non-profits and community agencies will be on campus this week, hoping to drive that point home with incoming students. The groups are exhibitors at the annual Dalhousie Career Services Volunteer Fair being held at the Student Union Building on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Denise Williams is marketing and communications officer with the Career Services Centre.  She says the fair has been steadily growing over the years, drawing in more than 500 students in 2008.  Her goal is to increase that number for 2009, particularly among first year undergrads. 

“The volunteer fair is very beneficial to students’ career and skill development,” she says. “It gives some great opportunities for people who don’t have a lot of work experience." She thinks the personal contacts made at the fair provide a chance for students and non-profits to find out if a contemplated volunteer relationship is a good fit. 

Thomas Guthro would agree. He’s the director of development and communications with Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank, one of the exhibitors at the event. He likes the face-to-face aspect of the fair because it lets his organization “get a sense of each person’s interests.”

He notes, “Just because someone has, say, an accounting background doesn’t mean they want to use those skills as a volunteer.” Conversely, some students enjoy using their educational skills when volunteering. MBA and Public Relations students from other schools have worked together in the past to develop business and marketing plans for various Parker Street enterprises. 

Dal student Tiam Feridooni is a good example of both approaches. As a full-time student hoping to be admitted to med school, he has volunteered in his chosen field by working with patients at a local hospital. He has also volunteered his artistic skills to produce posters and cards for a mental health agency. 

The Nova Scotia Nature Trust, another exhibitor, values such diversity and flexibility.  Volunteer Coordinator Nicole Arsenault says both attributes are often found in students. “Dal has students from all over the world. Volunteering is a great way to connect with Nova Scotia communities.”  Her agency’s volunteers can expect a diverse range of volunteer opportunities—in the office or in the field, working in conservation areas around the province.

Allison Rushton, career events coordinator with the Career Services Centre, sees other good reasons for volunteering. The former Dal student, now a full-time Dal employee, currently volunteers with Feed Nova Scotia. She thinks that our current economic uncertainty can give us some insight into the everyday hardships of others. “There is so much opportunity to get involved in Halifax—there is so much that needs to be done”, she says. 

Student Tiam Feridooni says volunteering for him is about giving back to the community.  “It  makes me feel like I’ve done something positive.  I do it because it’s a good thing to do."

The volunteer fair is being held Tuesday, Sept.15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the SUB McInnes Room, second floor.

Dal’s chapter of Best Buddies seeks student volunteers Kyle Phipps and Sarah MacPhee are volunteers with the Dalhousie chapter of Best Buddies. (Danny Abriel Photo) Sarah MacPhee says it’s both a delight and a responsibility to have someone look forward to your visits so much. As a volunteer with the Dalhousie chapter of Best Buddies, Ms. MacPhee has known her buddy, Trevor Hodge, for the past year. She describes him as a sports lover and an athlete who holds down a job at Tim Hortons and lives in Halifax’s north-end. “He really looks forward to our time together,” says Ms. MacPhee, a four-year student in microbiology and immunology. “It’s a break from his routine—his life is so scheduled between work and home that the chance to get out is so exciting.” Best Buddies is a program that pairs a person with an intellectual disability with a Dalhousie student volunteer. Mostly, the friends hang out with each other—they meet up for coffee or go to the movies—but they also attend organized events, such as a bowling night or a party at the Grawood. With many of its volunteers having graduated in the spring, Best Buddies is recruiting new volunteers who can extend a hand in friendship. “If we had more people, we could reach out to more people that could really benefit from the program,” says Kyle Phipps, a PhD student in biochemistry and a Best Buddies volunteer for the past four years. He describes his buddy, Stephen Burke, as an extrovert who likes to dance and is an avid fan of Trailer Park Boys. “It’s such a positive experience,” says Mr. Phipps, from Miramichi, N.B. “You walk away kinda all warm and fuzzy. And it’s a simple thing, a few hours a week for you, but your buddy’s going to be talking about it for days afterwards.” Founded in the U.S. in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver (of the Kennedy clan), the Best Buddies program in Canada has grown to more than 175 Best Buddies chapters at high schools and universities. To get involved with Best Buddies, e-mail buddies@dal.ca or call Kyle at 209-6020.