Several organizations across a range of sectors told CBC News it's been difficult convincing volunteers to return after they left early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ausome Ottawa's Cece Van Aert says people are 'still trying to get comfortable' with the idea of volunteering again, nearly three years after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared.As a volunteer co-ordinator with Ausome Ottawa, a registered charity that enriches the lives of children with autism through sport and recreation, Van Aert found it harder than usual to recruit volunteers for the organization's annual "Trot or Treat" Halloween event.
"We're not the only ones. So many other organizations need the volunteers," Van Aert said. "It's almost a fight for this small pool of people who are willing to volunteer their time." "The numbers are less than we would like to see them right now," she said. "We had, obviously, a really rough couple of years. Lots of programs shut down, weren't able to welcome volunteers into their programs and services, and now they're ready to have them back."But several local organizations across a range of sectors told CBC News it's been difficult convincing those volunteers to return.
Dierdre Freiheit, president and CEO of Shepherds of Good Hope and the Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation, said although the organization hasn't cut any services, it has been forced to modify how it delivers them. They now serve some meals in biodegradable containers, for example, because there aren't enough staff to wash dishes.
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