Eastern Volunteers is need of volunteers to assist with letterboxing and door knocking through the Whitehorse Community Chest. Eastern Volunteers relies on volunteers to assist us in collecting donations and only requires one or two hours of your time.
Please contact Christine Pound on 9870 7822 or christine.pound@easternvolunteers.org.au if you can assist.
National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest celebration of volunteers. Today there are over 6 million people volunteering annually in Australia, representing 36% of the adult population.
Eastern Volunteers is hosting a luncheon to celebrate the contribution of our volunteers. Our volunteers provide administration support and transport, providing inclusiveness for vulnerable members of our community.
Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills, meet new people and achieve positive community outcomes.
Volunteers make a real difference to the lives of many people in our community. Two volunteers recruited through EV were recently recognised for their contribution to Glen Park Community Centre in Bayswater North.
Suzanne started volunteering at the Glen Park Community Cafe seven years ago. In that time, Suzanne developed valuable skills in communication, coffee preparation, kitchen duties and OH&S.
Suzanne and Ismat
Suzanne’s time as a volunteer at Glen Park led to new opportunities, where she completed a Barista course and is now fully qualified in coffee-making. Suzanne is a valuable member of the GPCC family.
Asked why she liked volunteering with GPCC, Suzanne said, “It’s a good place to work, it’s lots of fun and the staff are like family to me. They are always making jokes and keep me smiling all day. It’s a happy environment and I love meeting new people here too”.
Ismat also volunteers at the Glen Park Community Café and has proven to be an integral part of the café’s operations. She assists in preparing delicious meals and drinks; provides great customer service and register operations. She is renowned for a warm and generous personality.
Ismat commented on what she likes about volunteering “The staff, my supervisor, the beautiful location and the fact it’s close to home. I like dealing with the customers, it’s a friendly environment to work in”.
We congratulate Suzanne and Ismat for receiving recognition as Volunteers of the Year at Glen Park Community Centre
Eastern Volunteers was recently awarded a contract to operate the Upper HACC Community Bus Service, starting January 2013. Bernadette, our ETR Coordinator, has done a great job facilitating the transition period.
Together with Vic North (GM) she met some 15 current users on 27 February, with reassurance the service continues while EV review current processes.
EV now has six buses for hire through the ETR register. The Upper Yarra Community Co-op presented $50,000 to help purchase a new bus for their area
The spirit of volunteering was showcased during Christmas, when Eastland Shopping partnered with Eastern Volunteers to provide gift wrapping for a gold coin donation.
Each Christmas, Mother’s Day and Fathers Day, EV co-ordinates a number of committed volunteers to wrap a large number of gifts for Eastland customers to give to lucky recipients.
More than $5,000 was raised for EV through the fantastic efforts of generous volunteers. Many generously donated a lot of time during the hectic Christmas period.
Lyn Coad, EV Assistant Transport Manager, has led this initiative for some years. Lyn says, “The most satisfying part of our involvement is the generosity of volunteers who come out of the woodwork to help who we have not previously had contact with, who we are able to build good relationships with. Also, the way in which many of the customers who want their special present wrapped beautifully really appreciate the effort the volunteers to go to ensure that the gift looks fantastic is very heart warming.”
From a volunteer’s perspective, participating can be a really great experience. Ann Kruspe, a full-time care worker, managed to fit in over 20 shifts in the three weeks preceding Christmas.
Vision-impaired volunteer Joan Duncan was accompanied by Hillsy, her Seeing Eye dog. After approaching EV for volunteer work, Joan was thrilled to take part when she heard about the gift wrapping service. She loves wrapping presents and reports, “I had a ball. It is a wonderful way of meeting people on a level playing field where you are of service.”
All donations go towards supporting the activities of EV by providing much needed funds to assist in service delivery. We’re thankful to Eastland for giving us the opportunity to run their gift wrapping service and also providing an excellent range of paper and ribbons.