THOSE who give their time freely and altruistically are being hailed in an upcoming week-long celebration.<\/p>\n
National Volunteer Week starts Monday, 17 May with the theme of recognise, reconnect and reimagine.<\/p>\n
Manager of Bendigo Volunteer Resource Centre Helen Yorston said volunteering needed now more than ever.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe think it\u2019s very important this year especially after the year of COVID, when volunteering in regional Victoria in particular was decimated,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very important time to recognise the value, the contribution and the time that volunteers gift to our community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a fantastic time for people to reconnect to their community and of course reimagine what life will be like when they connect and support a cause or charity that they really care about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Yorston said many volunteering organisations have been cautious to resume normal proceedings after two thirds of volunteers stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome organisations are sort of waiting for the vaccine and suggesting that volunteers should have the vaccine,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rollout has been perhaps a little bit slow but I\u2019m hoping through some promotion through National Volunteer Week that we\u2019ll reengage and reignite people\u2019s enthusiasm for volunteering.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said that a lot of groups have been changing the way they operate which has led to exciting opportunities.<\/p>\n
National Volunteer Week will be launched on Friday, 14 May at the Golden Dragon Museum with guest speakers including member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards, Sara Sterling from Victoria Volunteers, and chair of Bendigo Foodshare Cathie Steele.<\/p>\n
\u201cVolunteers did a fantastic job at helping Bendigo Foodshare deliver food packages and parcels to vulnerable people in our community during COVID,\u201d Ms Yorston said.<\/p>\n