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Volunteer Connect York Region Launches Senior’s Initiative to Spread Love and Support this Valentine’s Day

For Immediate Release: 

Markham, Ontario – February 14th, 2024. – Volunteer Connect York Region, the local volunteer centre, is spreading love and support to seniors this Valentine’s Day with the launch of its innovative senior’s initiative.

In response to the growing need for volunteer opportunities within the senior’s community, Volunteer Connect has undertaken a comprehensive exploration of ways to better serve this vital demographic.

Through extensive research and engagement efforts, Volunteer Connect has discovered valuable insights aimed at strengthening connections and fostering inclusivity within the senior’s community. A recent survey conducted by Volunteer Connect highlighted Google as the primary platform for seniors to discover volunteer opportunities. When asked, “How do you currently find volunteer opportunities?” one respondent claimed, “I check online. A special section for seniors would definitely be helpful”. 57% of survey respondents do not volunteer, with the top two reasons being unable to find opportunities & schedule conflicts. In recognition of this trend, Volunteer Connect is committed to ensuring that seniors have streamlined access to volunteer postings on the Volunteer Connect website through Google, facilitating seamless engagement with volunteer opportunities.

Furthermore, the survey revealed the most significant challenge faced by seniors was the difficulty in identifying suitable volunteer opportunities. This finding stresses the critical importance of Volunteer Connect’s new initiative, which aims to address this challenge head-on by curating and promoting volunteer opportunities specifically tailored to the needs and interests of seniors. 

“Seniors are looking for a rewarding way to support their local community and VCYR’s site provides a handy tool to find interesting and meaningful volunteering opportunities.” Says George Sheen, Volunteer Connect’s Fundraising Chair. 

By fostering meaningful connections and empowering seniors to contribute actively to their communities, Volunteer Connect is confident about making a profound and lasting difference in the lives of countless individuals and organizations.

If you’re interested in learning more or wish to donate or are seeking sponsorship opportunities,  please visit us at www.volunteerconnect.ca. 

For more information, please contact;

Thanah Sriskantha

Program Manager

Volunteer Connect York Region 289-469-5346 or thanah.sriskantha@volunteerconnect.ca

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Senior’s Program

For Immediate Release:

Markham, Ontario –(November 4, 2023) — Volunteer Connect -York Region, the local volunteer centre, is revamping the seniors initiative to be more inclusive to the senior community.

As community service organizations across Canada (including charities, non-profits and Indigenous governing bodies) work to support recovery in their communities, the Community Services Recovery Fund is providing Volunteer Connect York Region with $79,000 to help adapt and modernize their seniors program to grow support in the community.

Volunteer Connect York Region is dedicated to providing the senior population a sense of inclusivity and opportunity to feel welcomed to engage in their communities. During the pandemic, seniors were more hesitant in spending time with larger groups due to fear. In the post-pandemic era, partnering charitable organizations have emphasized their interest in addressing long term opportunity gaps that can be harnessed by seniors. Hence, why seniors are encouraged to rejoin the volunteer network through
Volunteer Connect’s Seniors Initiative.

“We believe in building a stronger, more inclusive community where seniors are valued for their wisdom and experience. The support from the Community Services Recovery Fund will empower Volunteer Connect York Region to create programming that fosters a sense of belonging among our senior community. We are excited to be on this journey, connecting seniors to opportunities, not only to help serve non-profits, but to make a meaningful impact in their communities.” – Arthur Chow, Board
President, Volunteer Connect York Region.

The new seniors program will provide a clearer understanding of the new needs of senior volunteers and our non-profit partners. The volunteering structure will ensure that our non-profit partners and seniors work together seamlessly, through collaborative programming to increase the volunteer options available for seniors while also bringing in a larger pool of older volunteers.

This new initiative will be reflected on the website with a segment dedicated solely to seniors which will showcase unique volunteering opportunities and other targeted information that will be updated on a regular basis.

If you’re interested in learning more or wish to donate or are seeking sponsorship opportunities, please visit us at www.volunteerconnect.ca.

For more information, please contact;
Thanah Sriskantha
Program Manager
Volunteer Connect, York Region
289-469-5346 or thanah.sriskantha@volunteerconnect.ca


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Volunteer Markham Rebrands as Volunteer Connect;York Region Expansion into new areas means more opportunities for others

For Immediate Release:
Markham, Ontario –(March 21, 2023) —Volunteer Markham, the local volunteer centre, in York Region has officially changed its name to Volunteer Connect, York Region.

This change represents the organization’s evolution and commitment to inclusion and engagement while we service the York Region South communities.

Volunteer Connect, York Region is dedicated to providing south York Region residents and volunteer organizations with leadership and resources to promote volunteerism and enrich the lives of those in our community. This is done by building meaningful partnerships by matching individuals to opportunities and connecting the private, public and non-profit sectors.

“We are excited to unveil our new name and brand which better reflects our mission and vision”, said

Arthur Chow, Chair, Board of Directors. “ As we continue to grow and expand our service with Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Stouffville as well as Markham, we want our name to be more inclusive of the entire York Region South communities.

Volunteer Connect, York Region, will continue to provide high quality services and support to volunteers and non-profit organizations throughout the southern York Region. We are committed to promoting volunteerism, building community and corporate partnerships and creating positive change for all residents including Youth, New Canadians and Seniors. As we grow in the community, we are fortunate and grateful for the generous support and sponsorships received, including: Telus, MNP, Trillium and 407ETR.

This new name and brand will be reflected in all of our marketing materials; including website, social media channels and communications. If you’re interested in learning more or wish to donate or are seeking sponsorship opportunities, please visit us at www. volunteerconnect.ca.

We are seeking volunteer nominations for our recognition program. You may nominate an individual or team prior to April 30th.

For more information, please contact;
Thanah Sriskantha
Program Manager
Volunteer Connect York Region
289-469-5346 or thanah.sriskantha@volunteerconnect.ca

Juile Bannerjea
Chief Marketing Officer,
Volunteer Connect, York Region
416-527-1804 or Julie.Bannerjea@volunteerconnect.ca

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Newcomer Housing Host Webinar

Community Connector Corrina Santos attended the Costi Housing Host Webinar Oct 19th representing Volunteer Markham and partnering with Volunteer Toronto, Volunteer MBC to inform Ukrainian newcomers about volunteering opportunities available to them and their children. Volunteering can help foster a sense of community togetherness by building relationships and networking opportunities.  

“COSTI has taken on the responsibility of organizing accommodation for Ukrainian newcomers and essential orientation and referral services in the Greater Toronto Area. A team of COSTI Housing Workers and Settlement Counsellors are ready and available to support the families.

All Ukrainian newcomer families are received by the Canadian Red Cross, given a welcome package, and transferred to either a settlement organization or to COSTI. Families are then matched by COSTI with vetted volunteer hosts for accommodation.

Once settled and feeling comfortable in their new home, families will receive short-term support with their immediate needs: help with enrolling their children in school; medical, health and financial needs, information and referral services to help access employment opportunities and the labour market and English as a Second Language classes. Our Settlement Workers also lend their support in helping Ukrainian newcomers become familiar with their new neighbourhood and community supports.”

For more information visit: www.costi.org
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Volunteer Markham receives $49,600 Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant

Markham, ON – On Friday, Markham-Unionville MPP Billy Pang met online with representatives from Volunteer Markham to hear how a $49,600 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is making a significant impact on their work in the community. The Resilient Communities Fund grant program was designed by OTF to help non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

“Congratulations to Volunteer Markham for receiving, once again, the Resilient Communities Fund from Ontario Trillium Foundation,” said Billy Pang, MPP for Markham-Unionville. “With this additional grant of $49,600, I look forward to seeing many Markham residents discover their love for volunteerism and engage themselves in helping others in need.”

Since receiving the one-year grant in the spring, Volunteer Markham has been busy providing a matching service designed to help volunteers and community organizations across York Region. Funds from the grant are being used to help with staffing costs for a Volunteer Coordinator to oversee this program. In addition, the grant is helping Volunteer Markham with some administrative costs, purchasing online software licenses and doing more online advertising, website enhancement and buying new technical equipment too.

 “If we hadn’t had the funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to help do these things, we’d be in a very, very different position today,” said George Sheen Fundraising Chair of Volunteer Markham. “The new funding will take us now in in a broader direction to help reconnect better with our charity partners and with our volunteers to do things in a unique and different way that we haven’t done in the past.”

The grant is helping fulfil Volunteer Markham’s mission of building stronger communities through innovative programming that inspire, inform and connect volunteers with the organizations that need them. To learn more about Volunteer Markham’s programs or to become involved, please visit: www.volunteerconnect.ca 

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) mission is to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Since 2020, OTF has supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. Visit otf.ca to learn more.  

Link to youtube video: VM announcement of Trillium Grant 2 – YouTube

Media Contact:
Thanah Sriskantha, Program Manager
Volunteer Markham
289-469-5346
thanah.sriskantha@volunteerconnect.ca