Almonte engages school to increase volunteerism
Call for student volunteers gets fast results
Tuesday April 22, 2008 -- Deron Hamel
Efforts by Almonte Country Haven’s staff to increase the home’s volunteer numbers have paid off, says the home’s life enrichment co-ordinator Darlene Thibault.

Thibault recently brought several student volunteer packages, designed by staff member Sylvia Monette, to Almonte District high school. The purpose of the endeavour is to help attract student volunteers to the Ottawa-area long-term care home.

The packages include copies of OMNI’s Everyday Heroes pamphlet, a list of the Top 10 reasons for volunteering, suggestions which detail activities volunteers can help out with at the home, a volunteer application form and a pledge of confidentiality.

After only a week, students were calling the home seeking interviews.

“This week alone I’ve had three interviews with students,” says Thibault, adding this is the first time the home has engaged local students in this manner.

As part of their high school curriculum, students in Ontario complete 40 hours of community volunteering. By reaching out to students and providing volunteering opportunities, Thibault says the home is not only doing something to help residents, it’s also showing community leadership.

Students will take part in a number of different jobs during their placements. The volunteers will be tasked to help in the dietary and housekeeping departments, as well as to assist residents and help with activities.

Administrator Rick Gourlie says he’s proud of the staff members’ efforts to reach out to the community. He adds that it’s important to encourage high school students to consider careers in long-term care in an era when the sector is expected to grow considerably.

Gourlie says that because high school students will soon be entering the job market, the long-term care sector can benefit from reaching out to youth.

“I don’t think (the students) realize that right within their own community there is an employer of choice,” says Gourlie. “We have a great union, we have great benefits, we have longevity (and) we have a population base that’s increasing not decreasing, so there will be more jobs in the future.”

Due to the results garnered from distributing the student volunteer packages, Thibault recommends other homes try similar approaches to encourage youth to get involved with volunteering in the long-term care sector.

She adds that the quick feedback and interest shown by students is encouraging.

“We’ll probably go back into the school now once a year,” she says.

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