WILL OUR VOLUNTEER AGENCIES SURVIVE?

The shutdown in our society caused by the coronavirus (as of mid-March 2020) has put a strain on every section of our society. We have closed down all public places, schools, churches, any gathering place and all sports games. But the shut-down has come at a very steep cost. 

 

Not only have several million people lost their jobs and businesses but all volunteer agencies are feeling the squeeze. In discussing the situation many people who are very involved in the volunteer sector calmly conclude, “About fifty percent of all volunteer agencies will collapse.” The future looks very bleak!

 

When volunteers are not involved they lose interest and drift away, some to other start-ups and some just cease their involvement. Financial contributions dwindle when any volunteer agency is not active. No one can do any good in this society without financial support. Finances are a very serious concern.

 

We need to examine what kind of commitment we can sustain if the agency is not active for a period of six months, one year or maybe two years? 

 

This season of unease spurs reflection about the contribution that all our volunteer agencies are making. This covers everything from sports programs for our kids, services to senior citizens, all forms of church service, refugee sponsorship and the welcoming people at our airports. What happens if you have no volunteers in our large city hospitals?

 

Government services and other forms of paid services are limited. We know that refugee families that are sponsored by churches and social groups do much better in this new Canadian situation than families that are strictly sponsored by a government agency. When it is a church or social group they take particular interest in the well-being and settlement of that family. Often, long term friendships develop. This moves from helping a new refugee family to a friendship that receives so many social supports from the new Canadian family.

 

Government services cannot support people in some of their deepest needs. This is where the volunteer, church or otherwise, will spend the extra hours and time in responding to people in their deep needs. How wonderful to see one of our parishioners take time from her busy morning to have tea with this very English grandmother who loves to serve tea with her good china. This moment of sharing is so important to our English grandmother.

 

We are also asking serious questions about the frontline services such as soup kitchens and the shelter programs in our big cities. Where do people who are homeless go when the shelter is closed? And the daily noon meal is no longer served? These people do not disappear into thin air. Their needs are just as great whether the shelter is operative today or not. What happens to them? 

 

When we stand in front of one of the shelters in mid-January we ask, “What would happen if these volunteers were not here?” What would happen if the church people who contact the shut-ins each week stopped doing this outreach ministry?

 

During the next few weeks we want to continue the dialogue about the importance of our volunteer agencies in our society, our Church and our families. They make a huge difference. What if they disappear?