Volunteer
The Orléans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre (OCCRC) was founded in 1988 thanks to a group of volunteers.
Through the years, the contribution and dedication of volunteers have been critical to the evolution of the OCCRC.
As an OCCRC volunteer, you can make a difference in many people’s lives. You also play a role in fulfilling the OCCRC’s mandate by supporting its vision and embodying its values.
How to become a OCCRC volunteer
First step: Interview
- First, you have an interview with the Volunteer Program Coordinator.
- This process allows the Coordinator to find out about your interests and skills.
- As the two of you talk, she can assess whether your interests and skills are compatible with current volunteer opportunities at the Centre.
- She can also establish when you are available for volunteer work (hours and days of the week).
Subsequent steps if your interview was successful
- Mandatory police record check.
- Once a candidate is chosen and assigned to a position as a volunteer, they will be provided with orientation training.
- The volunteer will complete the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act).
- All volunteers must sign a confidentiality policy form.
Benefits of being a volunteer:
- Diversify your experience in the workplace
- Develop your skills
- Share your talents and expertise
- Meet people and make new friends
- Make your resumé more attractive to potential employers
- Increased sense of self-worth by helping people
- Participation in fun and rewarding activities
- As a volunteer, you also get the opportunity to make a difference in your community
What do we offer to volunteers:
- Interesting tasks that can be completed on a flexible schedule
- Support in a welcoming, stimulating and fulfilling environment
- Opportunities training
- Opportunities to develop leadership skills
- Opportunity to make a significant contribution to your community
- Networking activities
For the potential candidate, an interview will be arranged; they will learn about the volunteer positions available. The Volunteer Program Coordinator will explore your interests, skills and availability to find a good match. Candidates will be required to submit a police records check. The OCCRC will accept a current one for up to 6 months. A letter will be provided by the Volunteer Program Coordinator to waive the fee to obtain the police records check. Acceptance to the Centre will be determined by the outcome of the screening process.
The average time is 1 to 2 weeks, depending on when the Volunteer Program receives the police records check and finalize the screening process.
The Volunteer Program recruits new volunteers throughout the year for specific positions but generally has two annual periods of recruitment; from September to November and from February to May.
Certain programs at the OCCRC are in high demand, such as the Food Bank; therefore, new volunteers want to support that program. The Volunteer Program Coordinator will ask if you wish to have your name on the waiting list. When a position becomes vacant, the Coordinator will call the next person on the list to schedule an appointment.
Youths 15 years of age and up can obtain a volunteer placement with the Centre during the summer months, and depending on the positions available, the Centre receives a high volume of requests. Youths can apply during the months of April-May.
The Centre will provide orientation, on-the-job training, and ongoing training throughout the volunteer placement.
You can make a donation; monetary and food donations are a great way to support the OCCRC.
Depending on the volunteer position, the OCCRC will usually ask for a commitment of 6 months of service. Successful matches will continue past that point. As a volunteer, you are free to leave whenever you like. Talk it through with the Volunteer Program Coordinator and give the OCCRC advance notice of your intentions. Regular volunteer hours range from 3 to 4 hours weekly.