By Marlene Barry
People who find they are bored or they can’t connect to make new friends might just be looking in the wrong places. In the words of Dorothy Parker, American satirist: “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.”
Opportunities to be curious, socialize, be entertained, can be showcases at the Sooke Region Volunteer Centre which will host its fifth annual Sooke Region Volunteer Fair on April 6 at Edward Milne Community School.
From Beecher Bay to Port Renfrew people are volunteering in many ways and through all seasons. Watch them on committees, at fairs, at the food bank, and in community gardens. They coordinate meetings, prune trees, check on neighbors, campaign for candidates, and apply for grants.
Where there are enthusiastic, creative, caring people there is always room for more.
It is about making good connections and the volunteer centre helps with that.
“We interview individuals to find out their passions, interests and availability,” says Trudy Vermass, a fellow SRVC volunteer.
“Then we do our best to match them with the best candidates from the list of more than 200 non-profit organizations, clubs and groups in the region. It’s more about good connections, not trying to fit a round peg in a square hole.”
What makes Sooke such a hotbed of volunteering? A town’s health and safety is shaped by volunteer organizations such as fire departments, search and rescue organizations, the Communities Health Network, Age Friendly Committee, and Food CHI.
Sooke also has a philharmonic orchestra and diverse arts groups because of volunteers. It’s hard to know how many people volunteered during the last election, but there were many familiar faces on doorsteps and in campaign offices. Volunteers explore and protect this terrific place, whether by leading hikes, preserving landmarks, recording local history, or stocking our streams.
Wednesday’s event will take place in two segments: noon hour for students and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for the public.
To register for a display table, for more information, or to book a volunteer opportunity interview, call 250-642-6364 ext. 235, or email sookeregionvolunteers@gmail.com or go to sookeregionresources.com.
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Marlene Barry is the chair of the Sooke Region Volunteer Centre.