Karen Long has been out in the community shaking hands, meeting people, and encouraging them to consider volunteering.
She’s not running for political office – although her husband holds a seat. She and other members of the Langley Volunteer Bureau are simply trying to increase the profile of this community’s newest non-profit – a group with the sole goal of connecting willing and able volunteers with local organizations in need of help.
The organization consists of community-minded individuals focusing on the need for volunteers, for essential programs and events in Langley, Long elaborated.
To help familiarize people with this new organization, Langley Volunteer Bureau is hosting another meet-and-greet session.
A couple hundred people attended the spring event at the Douglas Rec Centre in Langley City, Long said.
Now, they’re anticipating similar attendance for the second meet-and-greet vent this Saturday, Sept. 23 at Willoughby Hall, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
This is the second of what she said will be multiple meet-and-greet events that will be hosted in different neighbourhoods around Langley in the coming months.
Also on the books is volunteer orientation, training, and educational sessions, the first starting as early as mid-October.
“On Oct. 18, we are inviting business and organizations who are interested in group volunteering to an orientation session at the Timms [Community] Centre from 7 to 8:30 p.m.,” she explained.
Langley Volunteer Bureau is also putting together a speaker series for non-profit organizations this fall, and expect to host a big event for volunteer month in April.
“We have had many encouraging comments on how Langley Volunteers is assisting local agencies find other avenues of recruiting volunteers,” Long said, noting there are already numerous agencies registered as participants:
• Langley Association for Community Living
• Salvation Army Gateway of Hope
• Langley Memorial Hospital Auxiliary
• Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation
• Langley Rivermen Hockey Club
• Big Brother Big Sisters of Langley
• Langley Senior Resources Society
• Crohn’s and Colitis Canada- Fraser Valley West
• Fibromyalgia Well Spring Foundation
• CARES- Canadian Animal Rescue & Extended Shelter
• Soroptimist International of the Langleys
• Fort Langley National Historic Site (Parks Canada)
For more information, people can visit the meet-and-greet session Saturday. Otherwise, they can visit the website.
People are asked to RSVP by calling 604-897-7278, or emailing info@LangleyVolunteers.ca.
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