When folks share their hopes and dreams for volunteering with WAVAW, there is one thing that emerges as a theme – volunteers desire community. However, the reality is that WAVAW would not be the community that it is without the presence of our volunteers.

In all the different ways that volunteers show up to support survivors, our volunteers bring their whole hearts, a sense of vibrancy, enthusiasm, and sincere devotion to their roles. This energy is both contagious and necessary in supporting survivors as well as bolstering our collective resilience as an organization. We are deeply grateful for all that they do and, in celebration of National Volunteer Appreciation Week, staff have penned reflections to honour the ways that volunteers uphold our community.  

We hope you enjoy reading these as much as we enjoyed reflecting on the incredible impact of our volunteers!

“Recently, a volunteer asked me what I do to take care of myself after a day of answering the crisis line. At that moment, it occurred to me that I hadn’t even considered how I was going to engage in self-care after the shift. I realized that I was going along thinking that my threshold for carrying the weight of those stories was so high that I didn’t need to practice self-care.
Working with volunteers always makes me self reflect, which is an important part of providing ethical care. They ask important questions, and their fresh eyes offer so much wisdom and insight. This interaction not only kickstarted my return to daily self-care practices, but it made me realize how I need to honour my work on the crisis line and the impact that these calls have. I am endlessly grateful to volunteers for everything they bring to the table, and for making me a better support worker”.
– Michell, Medical Support Worker

“In the few hours before I facilitate a support group, there are countless thoughts racing through my mind. I might have just come out of a counselling session with a client in crisis. The printer might be notoriously refusing to give me the documents necessary for the group. But when I see a familiar face, I immediately feel grounded. When our volunteers show up eager to help, my mind pauses, and I am awestruck by their passion and dedication to support survivors. In our support groups, I have witnessed volunteers contribute their insights, foster connections, and directly support group members. And helping with support groups is merely one of the many ways volunteers show up. It is difficult to articulate my deep appreciation for our volunteers. A heartfelt thank you to each and every volunteer at WAVAW”.
– Betty, Counsellor

“Yesterday, for the first time ever, I had a donor ask me “what brings you a sense of hope?” Right away, I knew my answer: WAVAW’s volunteers. At WAVAW, we often say that we could not do what we do without the support of our volunteers. This truth is something that we feel every day – from the volunteers who ensure that our Crisis Line is accessible 24-hours a day, to the volunteers who help with our support groups, to those who step up to complete fundraising and administrative tasks. However these days, more than ever, I am cognizant of how our volunteers support WAVAW beyond the tasks that they step up to complete. Each and every day, our volunteers support us with their endless energy, true dedication to survivors and passion for shifting society. They have taken action by investing in a future free from violence. They humble us with how often, and how quickly they say “yes”. They ground us by always centring the voices of survivors. I am endlessly grateful for WAVAW’s volunteers. They inspire me. They bring me hope”.
– Emily, Manager of Fund Development

To our volunteers, we love you. Thank you for your commitment to supporting survivors and shifting society!

Are you interested in volunteering? Visit our volunteer page for more information!