Today (April 20) through Saturday is National Volunteer Week and the Chair of Volunteer Airdrie says, while there may not be any hugging of volunteers taking place, there's still going to be plenty of celebrating.  

Dave Maffitt says the COVID-19 pandemic has made volunteering look very different in recent days and for now they're just trying to help people to volunteer wherever they can.

"We don't want to put any volunteers at risk.  Definitely don't want people to contract the virus by going out there unnecessarily so we're encouraging people to volunteer on a virtual basis from home."

Volunteer Airdrie is communicating some of those opportunities that people have to do virtual or micro-volunteering on their social media platforms.  Maffitt says you can find the "COVID-19 Resource Centre" on volunteerairdrie.ca. 

Maffitt says people are being very resourceful in finding ways to volunteer during the pandemic and are helping countless organizations by making donations of blankets, sheets, pillowcases and towels and washcloths to the Calgary Drop-In Centre.  Volunteer Airdrie is following some grassroots Facebook pages from people in Airdrie who have been making masks for frontline workers. 

Airdrie volunteers have been stepping up to "send your love to a senior" and have been writing to seniors in the Bethany Care Centre and Luxstone Manor to send letters and words of encouragement while many go through a lonely time of isolation. 

Other Airdronians have been sewing bags for frontline workers so they can put their uniforms and scrubs into them before they go home.

Volunteer Airdrie has also listed a virtual food drive for the Airdrie Food Bank and ask people to look through their pantries for what they can donate and then drop it off at the Food Bank.

Maffitt says the only thing that will limit your volunteer time during the pandemic is your own imagination.  "Do it yourself," Maffitt says.  "Come up with ideas.  It doesn't have to be much, just little things in your neighbourhood.  Do what you can, as safely as you can."

He says it is heartwarming to see people's generosity and volunteer drive as they, and their neighbours, go through this difficult time which is why Maffitt says we need to celebrate during National Volunteer Week which has been adapted to a virtual celebration by Volunteer Canada.

"Instead of postponing it or cancelling it, what better time is there for us to be celebrating volunteerism," asks Maffitt?

This year the theme for the week is "It's time to applaud this country's volunteers," and recognizes the type of volunteering being done now, the kind that addresses critical social, economic and environmental issues.

The contributions made by Airdrie volunteers, and those right across the country, are huge.  "We know that there's about 47 percent of Airdrie's population, 15 and older, volunteer on a regular basis," Maffitt says.  "When you do the math on that it's just many, many millions of dollars in service that's going on in Airdrie that needs to be recognized.  People need to appreciate that we would not have the quality of life that we have without the level of volunteerism we have right now."

Overall, Airdrie volunteers are part of over 12.7 million across Canada who provide over 160 million hours of volunteer time each month and contribute more than $55 billion each year to the Canadian economy.  

As part of the Airdrie, and national, celebration, Volunteer Airdrie is posting templates on their social media platforms that people can put in their windows recognizing volunteers.

You can access them at volunteerairdrie.ca.  

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