Canada's National Volunteer Week may have just ended, but for one Toronto organization, the celebration is still in full swing.
Volunteer Toronto, a nonprofit that encourages Torontonions to get engaged in their communities, celebrated Volunteer Week by setting a challenge for themselves and Toronto’s high-school students.
In a push that lasts until May 6, Volunteer Toronto aims to get high-school-aged youth to collectively clock 5,000 hours of volunteer time. The challenge comes as a result of a collaboration with the fourth annual
ChangeTheWorld Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge, a program supported by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration.
"National Volunteer Week is often seen as a chance to recognize volunteers currently making a difference in the world," stated Deborah Gardner, executive director of Volunteer Toronto, in a news release. "But it's also an opportunity to reach out to the next generations of volunteers that aren't yet active in their communities and challenge them to be a part of the change."
Volunteer Toronto has coordinated with a number of nonprofit organizations throughout the city that are providing high-school students with opportunities to get involved. Participating organizations include the
Daily Bread Food Bank, the
East Scarborough Storefront and the
Toronto Public Library. A full list of organization is available
here.
Writer: Katia Snukal
Source: Volunteer Toronto