By Aaron Zaretsky November is kindness month, a month to take some time and help those in your community. A great way of getting involved is volunteering. Below are 5 not-for-profit organizations in the GTA where you can give back to your community and help others out. Toronto Kiwanis Boys & Girls Clubs For over 90 years, the Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Clubs have been dedicated to helping the lives of children, youth, and their families. They provide a safe and supportive space where children and youth can explore new opportunities, overcome barriers, and develop strong skills and relationships. They have several diverse programs focused on literacy and learning, cooking and nutrition, physical activity, creative arts, and personal development. Volunteers assist children and youth in these programs and can choose how to get involved. Through these programs and the help of volunteers, Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Clubs instill core values of mutual respect and teamwork. For more information on getting involved, please visit their website and sign up today. Brampton Meals on Wheels Beginning in Brampton, Ontario in 1963, Meals on Wheels is a community support service that delivers nutritious meals to individuals who need assistance. Their mission is carried through friendly volunteers who deliver approximately 125 meals a day, five days a week, with a smile regardless of the weather conditions. Every volunteer is a driver that not only delivers meals door to door but interacts with each individual. If you have a driver’s license and vehicle, and would like to volunteer visit their website and sign up. Women That Give – Mississauga Women That Give is a not-for-profit organization that empowers women and young girls by providing access to better education and tools on how to sustain their mental, sexual health and economic self-sufficiency. With improved education and accessible tools, Women That Give strives to end all forms of violence against women and young girls, and remove barriers to education so that they can achieve their lifelong goals. Women That Give are operated by women volunteers who empower Mississauga communities by sparking social welfare and civic engagement especially towards economic security for women. The volunteers do a variety of tasks such as fundraising, workshops, blogging, social activities, and special events. If you would like to volunteer, you can apply on their website . Seva Food Bank – Mississauga Started in 2010, Seva Food Bank provides nutritious and culturally-appropriate food to low-income families residing in Mississauga. Also, they support those clients in their journey to self-reliance by addressing the root causes of their hunger. Seva Food Bank is a part of Sikhs Serving Canada, a not-for-profit organization, with a mission to positively impact local communities by acting on the basic Sikh tenets of sarbat da bhalla (the wellbeing of all), chardi kala (eternal optimism) and seva (selfless service). Their mission is successful through volunteers who are pivotal to the organization. There are various volunteer opportunities at Seva Food Bank that cover all aspects of the organization which are policy development, governance, serving clients, and fund development. If you would like to volunteer, check their website out. Egale Canada Human Rights Trust – Toronto Egale Canada Human Rights Trust is a not-for-profit organization focused on improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, and two spirit (LGBTQI2S) people in Canada. Also, they want to enhance the global response to LGBTQI2S issues. Egale’s ultimate goal is to live in a world where every person can achieve their full potential, without hatred and bias. They strive to accomplish their mission by providing awareness of human rights and inclusion through research, education and community engagement, inspiring cultural change. Volunteers are vital to the mission as they help conduct research and educate and interact in the community. If you would like to volunteer, you can register on their website.
Volunteering at a charity is a great way to practice kindness. These not-for-profit organizations offer various opportunities in diverse communities across the GTA. Regardless of who you are, be it race, religion, sex or gender, you can make a difference! |
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