WHY VOLUNTEER?
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Volunteering is crucial, as it offers essential help to worthwhile causes. The benefits of volunteering are as varied as the volunteers. Ask people who volunteer and they will tell you that volunteering has changed them in ways they never expected. Some reasons are:
- can give a sense of worth and achievement
- helps you make new friends, deepens your friendships and/or helps make connections in your community
- can help learn new skill/s
- can expand your heart, mind and soul
- perhaps even helps land a job
- can reduce stress/anxiety, increase your mood/joy and provide hope to you when you give back
- may help you have physical health benefits
As you see, the benefits are as varied as the volunteers.
At JAWS, we knew students needed safe places and events to be able to volunteer at. Many post-secondary institutions and scholarships now require students to list their hours of volunteer work and explain what they have done to make their community/world a better place.
Knowing that students need to have this important experience and information for their applications forms and resume; the festival was created with idea in mind of being run by volunteers, particularly-students.
Kids are Worth It (Food Program)
Kids Are Worth It Nutritional Program has been operating for the past 21 years, supporting students in Vera M. Welsh, Aurora Middle School and J. A. Williams High School. Serving up breakfast, lunch and healthy snacks. This food program runs solely on fundraisers and donations!
The Lac La Biche Festival of Trees committee recognizes that food fuels the brain and helps it learn. Every year the festival committee is committed to give $10,000.00 to assist with this vital food program for our future-the kids!
- For more information about the food program requirements and contact information reach out to 780 623 4672
HONARARIUMS:
In order to run clubs and organizations, basic funding is required. We know parents are all ready, usually both working, to provide for their families and asking them to now take the time to raise money for these organizations is often a burden.
The LLB Festival Committee set the vision of assisting non-profit organizations to obtain fundraising dollars to help operate their organizations. It is the hope of the committee, that by doing this:
- organization and clubs will be able to drop their fees in order to join
- families will have less stress over money issues
- parent will have more time to spend with their child/ren instead of fundraising
- a child may be able to participate in an club/ organization because the funding requirements are lower
Hence, the festival committee decided that volunteering hours for the festival, could be exchanged for an honorarium for the organization/club. To qualify for funding, the organization, need to somehow help or address children programing or needs. The amount of $500.00 is the usually honorarium payed. This money is available to both, school and non school groups.
For more information as to how your organization or club could get involved:
contact Pat Boon-Anderson, Festival Chair at 780 404 7911