Volunteers

The CAS' role is greatly enhanced by the selfless contribution of the 43 volunteers assisting with our service delivery. The volunteers provide additional transportation for the children in care, as well as assist in supervising non-custodial parents with access to their children.

Who are volunteers?

Volunteers are people looking for opportunities to share, to learn, to grow, to contribute, to make new friends and to tackle new challenges. Volunteers are people who have a common desire to share the responsibility for others in the community.

Volunteers are people like you...

• they are men and women from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds
• they are young and old, single and married
• some are working professionals, some are retired
• some are students, some are homemakers and some may be unemployed

Drivers take children to doctor and counsellor appointments, to school and parental visits. Last year, the volunteer drivers drove over 150,000km throughout Lambton County and to destinations like London, Wallaceburg, and Grand Bend. This alone represents over 2,700 volunteer hours. Volunteer drivers are reimbursed mileage costs when they use their own cars, but are encouraged to drive the seven CAS vehicles to help keep the transportation costs down for the Society.

Several volunteers provide supervision duty at the Family Visit Centre, thereby allowing non-custodial parents an opportunity to visit with their children. Visits occur at the Centre three days per week throughout the year.

Many volunteers bring specific skills to the Society, while others give their caring and time to the well-being of children. The volunteers tell us that the greatest satisfaction in volunteering is the knowledge that they have contributed to a child's life.

How much time do I need to commit?

The choice is yours. Some donate a few hours of their time each week or each month. Others work almost full-time. A minimum of a one-year comitment is considered necessary for roles in which a personal relationship is developed - such as a special friend to a child or parent. However, there are shorter term opportunities available such as activity groups or special projects where help is needed occassionally, but not needed on a regular basis. Opportunities for volunteers vary from CAS to CAS.

What does volunteering offer?

Volunteering is a worthwile way to use and show your skills. It is an opportunity to meet interesting people, other volunteers, workers and the staff and families that the CAS serves. It has much to offer, but its greatest satisfaction is knowing that you have made a contribution to improving a child's life.