Photo: Joshua Berson
As the global crisis of COVID-19 continues, grassroots actions are seeing volunteers mobilizing, people reaching out and folks calling to check in on their neighbours across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. And United Way is there to help, thanks to iVolunteer, a portal linking volunteers to community needs.
iVolunteer matches helpers
Neighbourhood houses, long-time advocates and supporters in their communities are leading the way to provide meals to folks in need. The United Way-funded South Vancouver Neighbourhood House team are among those pivoting from their usual day-to-day operations to provide rapid response for people that need it most. Working with United Way British Columbia volunteers sourced from iVolunteer, they served a hot lunch to local seniors on Tuesday March 29th.
To learn more about our quick response work in communities across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, or to sign up to help, please visit our COVID-19 response page.
When Executive Director Zahra Esmail got word food banks were relocating food distribution centres for safety reasons, she knew it could mean some seniors from the community would be at risk of taking public transit to access food hampers.
“We’re trying to get seniors to stay close to home for their own safety,” Zahra explains.
So on Monday, she drove to a food bank distribution centre and picked up supplies for 75 people. Working with discounted soups from Goodly Foods and bread provided by Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, she was able to provide a hot lunch for local residents in addition to food hampers.
Zahra says her staff have been an inspiration, rallying quickly to get supplies ready and distributed to local residents. “We felt we had to get a response ready.”
Photo: Joshua Berson
United Way mobilizes quickly
“Things are changing so quickly with the COVID crisis, we need volunteers who are there for their communities sometimes the same day,” says Kim Winchell, Director of Social Impact at United Way British Columbia.
“We sent out a call Sunday for volunteers to help serve meals at neighbourhood houses in north, south and downtown Vancouver Tuesday and we had an overwhelming response.”
“United Way volunteers worked as greeters making people feel welcome while maintaining physical distancing. We want to ensure that everyone in our communities gets the help they need and our volunteers are helping us do that.”
Volunteers have heartwarming experience
For new United Way British Columbia volunteer Edmond, stepping up to support his neighbours has been an uplifting experience in this time of uncertainty.
When the call went out Sunday on iVolunteer for folks to support on Tuesday at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, he was quick to act. “I was glad to give a hand,” he says.
“It was heartwarming seeing people help each other in these hard times,” Edmond says, adding volunteering with United Way has been overwhelmingly positive and he’s eager to help out again soon.
Future needs
With no sign of physical distancing measures easing in the coming weeks, those who would not ordinarily rely on food banks or emergency services, may find themselves turning to community supports. Zahra says it’s vital that community organizations like South Vancouver Neighbourhood House step up and show their local love.
“We believe food is a basic human right and we’re doing our best to make sure folks in our neighbourhoods get continued access.”
It’s also personal for Zahra because she knows many of the people by name and wants to ensure they’re safe and nourished.
“We see these seniors every week,” she says.
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