Volunteer

Why volunteer?

Volunteering is easy! Consider your own interests and skills, then think of who might benefit. Whatever you do, start early. The sooner you start volunteering, the greater the benefits you'll reap later on in life.

You can help people in your community

Volunteers are people like you who want to make a difference in their community. When you become an Alzheimer Society volunteer, you have a chance to:

• Help make life better for those living with dementia,
• Help improve the quality of community life,
• Support a cause that you believe in and
• Work with other members of the team to achieve a specific goal.

You can help yourself

Volunteering also helps you make a difference in your own life. Through volunteering, you can:

• Use your professional skills in a new setting,
• Meet other people who share your interests and passions,
• Learn new skills and discover new talents,
• Advance your career or gain experience and qualifications for future employment, scholarships, bursaries and academic programs,
• Build your network and establish contacts in your field of interest,
• Create a schedule that works for you and
• Have fun!

You can keep your brain in shape

A healthy brain is vital for healthy aging. Volunteering not only engages your mind and body, but it can actually help you age well and reduce the risk of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Here are some healthy reasons to volunteer:

• Improve your physical and mental well-being. Meeting new people and engaging in new activities can boost endorphins, those “feel-good” brain cells that keep your heart pumping, your mind sharp, and your immune system working. They also help lower stress.
• Build self-esteem and confidence. The satisfaction of knowing you've made a positive difference in someone's life increases your own self- worth and confidence. If you're experiencing difficult times, volunteering has the extra advantage of giving you a sense of purpose.
• Expand your network of social support. Connecting with new people in different settings helps open your mind to new perspectives, widens your social network and reduces depression and isolation.
• Live longer and healthier. Staying engaged and curious about your world helps keep you young at heart and feeling vibrant. The bottom line is that life-long learning is key for improving quality of life and for healthy aging.

Current volunteer opportunities

Here are just a few areas where you can find an opportunity to suit you:

• Programs. Help develop programs to support people with dementia or offer your time in a specific program in your community
• Fundraising. Help out with events or volunteer to make calls
• Leadership. Volunteer as a member of a board or committee, or offer support and training to other volunteers
• Advocacy. You can help keep dementia top-of-mind among politicians and media:
  • Write letters or emails to different levels of government.
  • Meet with local politicians to help achieve public policy goals.
  • Participate in public forums, meetings or events.
  • Speak to radio, television or newspaper reporters. (We’ll help you!)

To find out more about these opportunities, please contact speakout@alzheimeront.org or info@alzheimerperthcounty.com.

Specific volunteer opportunities

Be a program volunteer

Program volunteers enhance social programs such as Minds in Motion. The time commitment is 2.5 hours each week for a minimum of 8 weeks to assist the Program Coordinator in providing small group or 1:1 interactions with persons living with dementia and their caregivers.

If you are interested in joining a dynamic and fun program team, please contact the Program Coordinator at 519-271-1910 or pbalfour@alzheimerperthcounty.com.

Be a committee member

The Alzheimer Society of Perth County is always looking for Committee members for the following events:

• Soup's On. This fundraiser takes place in January. Committee meetings usually begin in September.
• The IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's. This fundaiser takes place in May. Committee meetings usually begin in February.
• Fore! the Memories Golf Tournament. This fundraiser takes place in June. Committee meetings usually begin in February.

All committees meet once or twice a month with a time commitment of two to four hours a month.

If you are interested in joining a dynamic and fun team of volunteers and staff, please contact the Events Coordinator at 519-271-1910 or info@alzheimerperthcounty.com.

Be a delivery driver

We are always looking for volunteers to deliver and pick up promotional items and Coffee Break kits.

If you are interested in hanging posters and other promotional materials for the Alzheimer Society of Perth County, please contact the Events Coordinator at 519-271-1910 or info@alzheimerperthcounty.com.

Be an event volunteer

Volunteers are essential to the success of the fundraising events we host at the Alzheimer Society of Perth County.

The following Society events are always looking for new volunteers:

• Soup's On. Held on the third Saturday in January.
• The IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's. Held on the Saturday following Victoria Day in May.
• Fore! the Memories Golf Tournament. Held on the fourth Monday in June.
• Coffee Break. Kicks off in September through November

Volunteers are always needed on the day of the event in the following areas:

• Set-up and take down,
• Transporting items to and from the office,
• Registration,
• Food and beverages,
• Logistics and
• Route Marshals (specific to the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's).

Time commitment is three to eight hours, depending on the volunteer job.

To find out how you can get involved in any of our fundraising events, please contact the Events Coordinator at info@alzheimerperthcounty.com or 519-271-1910 today!

Register online to volunteer

Thank you, volunteers!

Every April, the Alzheimer Society of Perth County celebrates our volunteers who stand amidst Canada’s 12.7 million volunteers during National Volunteer Week.

The number of Ontarians with dementia is expected to increase by 40% in the next decade. The human costs and the costs to our healthcare system will be enormous.

We really could not do what we do to support people with dementia, and raise money to find a cure, without volunteers.

We value your experience, your input, your enthusiasm and the opportunity to work with you.

During each National Volunteer Week, we recognize the tireless contributions of our volunteers. Your support is absolutely invaluable to our staff, and to families across our community who are living with a dementia diagnosis. Thank you.