Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

What is an example of when you saw the fairs making a difference?
The fairs were not just about the showcasing of volunteer opportunities or valuable resources that each of the non-profits provided, but another way for the non-profit community to ask for support and for the public - many of whom that are part of that community to know and understand where support was needed. By raising awareness of non-profit needs, and what volunteer seekers needed to feel part of something that mattered helped make it cohesive and collaborative. These are the ingredients needed to strengthen any community. We hoped that these volunteer fairs would help create a ripple effect by strengthening community bonds, while addressing critical volunteer recruitment needs."

Estimated reading time: 15 minutes

It’s difficult to describe, but there’s a feeling you get after you make a donation. You know—that warm and fuzzy sensation that makes your heart swell. And no matter if you’ve donated for the first time—or the hundredth, that warm and tender feeling manages to tiptoe its way back every time.

Where does it come from? Maybe it’s from knowing that your contribution is changing the lives of those in need, advancing social justice, or righting environmental wrongs. Or, maybe it comes from the simple pleasure of finding your new life’s purpose. Regardless of the reason, it’s a reminder that donating even a bit of extra pocket change can change your life—and someone else’s too.

With so many ways to donate, it’s easy to feel lost. Don’t worry, we’re here to help! In this chapter of our Continuum of Civic Engagement series, we’re laying out three proven donation strategies to help you find your footing and sponsor the causes that truly strike a chord with you. So let’s get started.

Strategy 1: Set Up Recurring Monthly Donations
Making a monthly donation to a charity, non-profit, or community-led group is sort of like subscribing to a streaming service. Every month you can pitch in a small budget-friendly amount, and in return you get to enjoy the impact that organization makes—like a Netflix account but more philanthropic.And unlike bulky, unplanned donations, streamlined monthly payments offer you a bird’s eye view into how much you’re actually spending.

So, you can cut out the guesswork when someone asks if you have anything else to spare. But the benefits don’t stop there—your cause has a lot to gain from monthly donations too.That’s because when non-profits have the safety net of predictable and recurring income, they’re better able to plan for the future, allowing them to continue lifting up the communities that depend on their services.

Strategy 2: Name Non-Profits in Your Will
What if you’ve been donating to a non-profit month-after-month for years? You’ve gotten to know the organization's team, maybe you’ve volunteered with them, and over time you’ve become woven into the organization’s fabric. And now, you want to help them deliver on their mission—even after you’re gone.

This is where leaving your charitable donations in a will can be an effective strategy - it’s another way to help an organization plan out their future. n the process, the organization’s ongoing success becomes part of your legacy. It can also have significant tax benefits because your donation may be deducted from your overall estate after your pass, making it a win-win solution for your cause, and your family.

Strategy 3: Contribute to Your Corporate Matching Program
If you only have so much to give, and want to stretch it even further, a corporate matching program may be your best bet. Corporate donation matching is exactly what it sounds like. It’s when your employer matches your charitable donations—dollar for dollar. A quick flip through your employment contract or corporate policy agreement, or even a visit to HR, is all you need to see if a matching program is already in place.

Even if there isn’t anything in writing—it never hurts to ask. Floating the idea over to your management team could be all it takes to spark a wider conversation, and architect a donation matching program for the future.


Final Thoughts
It’s no secret that charities, non-profits, and community-led groups are the sturdy footing our communities stand on. But without thoughtful and structured charitable giving, that foundation would slowly crumble and the people they serve would fall through the cracks. In many cases how we contribute is just as important as if we contribute.

Strategies that play the long game, like setting up a monthly donation schedule, naming organizations in your will, and sifting through paperwork to uncover a corporate matching program you didn’t know existed, are most effective. If you want to learn more about more ways to impact your community, you can always visit our Continuum of Civic Engagement to learn more.

Estimated reading time: 15 minutes

It's two weeks before Thanksgiving and you can't wait to volunteer at this year's local food drive. It's hard to forget the feeling of working with volunteers at last year's event. You remember the endless waves of people dropping off donations they collected. Rows of volunteers packing and sorting thanksgiving goodies into every box. And fleets of delivery drivers ready to deliver holiday happiness to a family in need.

So how can you pump up your team's sense of collaboration? In this article of our our Continuum of Civic Engagement series, we'll walk you through the top 3 strategies to level up collaboration across your volunteering teams.

Clear Communication Channels 
You know those moments when you need a solution, but can't reach the person who has it? That's how many new volunteers feel when they're starting out. Jumping from volunteer to volunteer looking for answers to the roadblocks holding back their productivity. And it doesn't just frustrate the volunteers desperate for help. It also slows down other team members from wrapping up their tasks. 

So how can you address this? The answer is simple. You need a solid and clear communication channel to stay ahead of the problems your volunteers run into. Team group chats, direct response inboxes or even handing out your phone number could do the trick. As long as volunteers can grab the person they're searching for in real-time, that's all that matters. 

The Power of Training and Development
Working with volunteers is a lot like building a house. Before you can start you need to lay down a solid foundation. And in the world of volunteerism, training is that foundation. Training and development can do a lot for your volunteer organization or cause. It drives efficiency, bumps up productivity and lays out expectations. But it also takes volunteers by the hand and walks them through the process of working together.

With training and development sessions volunteers get a chance to know each other. Share stories of how they got started, and bond over the cause they've dedicated so much of their life to. For so many reasons, training and development can open the doorway to life-long collaboration between volunteers.

Encourage Teamwork
If you're a volunteer manager you have a lot on the go. Recruitment visits, onboarding lessons, and scheduling take up most of your time. So you don't have time to monitor a communication channel or architect new training and development sessions. If you find yourself in this situation, don't worry, there's one last bow left in your quiver.

You can sit back, and trust your volunteers to take newcomers under their wing. Remember, your volunteers love the cause they serve. They've dedicated years of their life to drive it forward and help it reach new heights. And often, they're bursting at the seams to help out a fellow volunteer enthusiast. So have a little faith in your volunteer team and help them help each other. 

Conclusion
Building a collaborative environment among volunteers is like putting together a puzzle. At first it's hard to know where everything should go. But with a little effort from everyone involved, you can create a beautiful picture. And including systems like communication channels and training sessions can help.

That's because they open up doors for real time responses and meaningful connections. Driving your cause forward and with less day-to-day friction slowing your organization down. And if you're tight on time, or strapped for resources, you can always depend on your team to lend a helping hand to a fellow volunteer in need.

Together, these tactics can forge a strong and unified team of volunteers to power your organization goals. But if you want to learn more about fostering collaboration amongst your volunteers, you can always visit our Continuum of Civic Engagement to learn more.

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

How To Connect With People Using Empathy Strategies

Struggling to connect with the people around you? Empathy could be the solution. When we hear the word empathy used in day-to-day life, it usually reminds us of a certain memory or moment. A coworker making you feel heard, a relative forgiving a mistake, or a friend giving you thoughtful advice. These are all great examples of empathy at work. At their core, empathy strategies are forms of emotional connection that lighten the load of everyday life through kindness .

But developing empathy isn't only for those we express it to, it has benefits for us as well. Expressing empathy strengthens the relationships we have with the people in our lives. Think of a time when you were down on your luck, when you felt alone or even unseen. Do you remember the person who was there to listen? Most of us would answer yes to this question.

That's because showing empathy builds trust, promotes cooperation and even resolves conflicts. Are you having issues with a colleague or struggling to connect with a friend? Being more empathetic might be the skill that makes the difference.

But how can you start being more empathetic? In this article we’ll cover 3 strategies on how to develop empathy. They include:

• Listening Actively
• Perspective Taking
• Self Education

By the end of the article, you’ll understand the value of having an empathy strategy.

Active Listening: A Great Way To Cultivate Empathy
What's the quickest way to start developing empathy? The answer is- active listening. Active listening, also referred to as empathetic listening, is similar to the traditional form yet with a few caveats. For starters, it goes past simply hearing the words someone is saying.Active listening pushes us to invest more into the speaker by being present, recognizing verbal and non verbal cues and validating their concerns. Listeners participate in the conversation, but active listeners help guide it.Here are a few quick ways you can improve your active listening skills.

Paraphrasing
If you're not understanding something clearly, say it in your own words, to confirm you're on the same page.

Reflecting
Take a moment to acknowledge and validate the speaker's feelings. This demonstrates a high level of emotional intelligence and will encourage the speaker to share more.

Give Feedback
Constructive responses let the speaker know you're invested in their success and happiness.

These are all great examples of how to cultivate empathy through the power of active listening.

Sharing Perspectives: An Important Way To Improve Empathy
It may not be easy, but putting yourself in someone else's shoes can go a long way. By sharing someone else’s perspective, you'll see the world through their eyes. It can give you valuable insight about their challenges, fears, frustrations, as well as other feelings. This insight also allows us to understand why these feelings exist.

Sharing perspectives is a lot like sharing eyeglasses. The world might become harder to navigate, depending on which ones you try. The next time someone tells you they're having troubles at home or stress at work, ask yourself, "How would I want people to communicate with me? Or "What advice would I want to hear right now"?

Asking these types of questions will change how you connect with the people around you. It’s also a great exercise on how to improve emotional empathy.



Educating Ourselves: Build Empathy Through Knowledge
It's not always easy to understand every problem someone is having. You may lack context, experience or the ability to relate. What if you've never lost your job or experienced the pain of a divorce? This is where education comes in.

Education can be a valuable resource to bridge the gap between what we need to know and the people we want to help. It's an empathy building tool that gives us a chance to understand the full scope of an issue someone is having. That understanding can reshape our perspectives and help provide constructive feedback.

Here are a few ways you can educate yourself to increase empathy:

Seek Out Educational Resources
There are endless online, and offline, resources to help understand people's circumstances. Books, courses and forums are a few great examples that offer perspective and improve empathy .

Volunteer
Volunteering gives us a chance to engage with people from diverse backgrounds. These interactions can provide a lot of insight into the challenges people are facing.

Seek Out A Professional
Licensed professionals are great at teaching empathy and sharing information about navigating different situations. They can also provide you with more advanced empathy techniques .



Conclusion
Empathy is a skill set that often goes unpracticed. But it rarely goes unnoticed.When we practice empathy we build bridges between people, rather than tear them down. It's not easy though. It involves active listening, perspective sharing and the willingness to educate yourself. But with time, empathy can transform the relationships we have with the people around us. Friendships can be rebuilt, families can be saved, and colleges can begin to trust. If you're prepared to put in the work, time, and effort, developing empathy can be life changing.

If you would like to learn more about developing empathy, check out our Continuum of Civic Engagement.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect, be thankful, and support your community! Traditionally, the holiday has been about spending time with those who matter most, eating a delicious turkey dinner, and enjoying the beautiful fall colours before the fall breeze turns to a winter chill.

This Thanksgiving, start a new tradition and explore how you can spread that thankful feeling and spirit of giving back to your community. There are many ways you can get involved - and these opportunities are available all-year round. Explore the ways you can get involved this Thanksgiving - and beyond by supporting those in your community in a variety of ways.

Volunteer at a Food Bank
Volunteering at a food bank is a great way to support food accessibility for those who need it most in our communities across Toronto. Learn how you can support the food security organizations below as a volunteer:

- Daily Bread Food Bank
- North York Harvest Food Bank
- Scarborough Rosewood Food Drive

Become a Volunteer Driver
A Volunteer Driver is someone who delivers meals to vulnerable populations such as seniors or low-income individuals and families. As a driver, you will receive a route, pick up individually packaged meals for recipients, and deliver to their homes to ensure that their daily meals are safely received and enjoyed.

Click here learn more and volunteer with Meals on Wheels and More.



Donate Non-Perishable Goods
Donating non-perishable goods is a safe way to get involved in community if you are hesitant about in-person volunteering, or are looking for alternative ways to support your community. These organizations below are always searching for specific items - check out their social media for essential and urgent item requests:

- Sai Dham Food Bank
- North York Harvest Food Bank
- Daily Bread Food Bank



Explore Ways to Offer Comfort to Those In Need
Being a listening ear, a supportive hand, or just being what's needed is a meaningful way to support your community and individuals who may be struggling with isolation or stress in their lives. The following organizations act as opportunties for volunteers to get involved with offering one-on-one support to those in need.


If you're looking for other ways to start your volunteering journey, book a one-on-one session with an Advisor or start searching for roles here!

Written by Cara Eaton and Kasandra James, Volunteer Toronto Staff   |   Estimated reading time: 7-minutes

The emotion and motivation behind volunteering are important. They impact how we show up to a role or task, and influence how we engage with an organization’s mission or the persons that we may be supporting along their life journey. Volunteers can hold empathy and sympathy during their engagement but understanding the impact of each feeling could mean the difference between showing up in community as an ally or perpetuating harm.

At Volunteer Toronto, we are reflecting on the differences between empathy vs. sympathy and the meaning of “Empathy in Action” in preparation for National Volunteer Week 2022. Here’s how we perceive the role of these two motivations in volunteerism, as we work to enable anti-oppressive community engagement.

Definitions to Note

Sympathy involves understanding from your own perspective. Interactions rooted in sympathy can lead to disconnection, and the amplification of the differences between two people as you look to engage from your own perspective and experiences.

Empathy involves putting yourself in the other person's shoes and understanding why they may have particular feelings or circumstances. Interactions rooted in empathy can fuel connection between two different people, as they are not looking to relate but to understand one another.

Source: Merriam-Webster 2022

How Sympathy Can Lead to Harm in Volunteerism

Many volunteer roles involve supporting people who are different from yourself—different ages, races, ethnicities, gender identities, abilities, socio-economic status, systemic influencers, and life experiences. For example, volunteers who do not experience food insecurity often volunteer at a food bank serving persons who struggle to access food regularly. Today we’re asking: How can showing up with sympathy rather than empathy for service users cause harm?

Often, Volunteer Toronto receives an increase of requests from people looking to volunteer during the holidays for one day at a food bank. This trend can feel like a harmful cycle of those who experience safety, security and privilege, reaching out to help others who do not experience those things in order to feel good about themselves. The level of commitment (one day), the type of volunteerism (at a food bank), the activity (transactional meal exchange), and the service user (someone seeking a human right), is often rooted in sympathy and lacks empathy around how another person came to be food insecure.

Without examining how society has put a person into a position of “need” and others into positions of “helpers” or “savers”, volunteers can develop a sympathetic response that leads to a harmful disconnect with the humanity of service users. Viewing the serving of a meal as a short-term, transactional exchange to be done once a year treats the symptom of food insecurity without addressing its roots or the human right to food.

To exercise more empathy, volunteers can consider the systems that impact the challenges service users may be facing, such as the ways racism, colonialism, homophobia, sexism, and other factors lead to someone experiencing food insecurity or lack of access to human rights and meaningful community connection. Leading with empathy may mean finding ways to advocate for food security rights year-round, in addition to signing up to volunteer at a food bank.

White Saviourism in Canada

White saviourism describes the disconnect and harm white-passing bodies cause when trying to “help” a racialized person from a place of privilege, feeling as though they can save that individual from the socio-economic impact of racism. White saviourism comes from a perspective of sympathy, where the solutions to a complex problem are assumed by those who do not experience them.

An example of systemic white saviourism is the federal approach to safe water access for Indigenous communities. Powerful decision makers, who have access to clean drinking water, have delayed action through lengthy research and assessment phases that last years. Regulations on water quality haven’t been adhered to, and the responsibility of providing clean drinking water is facilitated through heavily administrative annual grant applications that are intended to fix the problem. There is a lack of accountability, action and understanding, of how to truly address this systemic issue which continues to be prevalent for many people living on government-mandated reserves today.

Source: The Water Crisis in First Nations Communities

Examples in the volunteer space include organizational models based on “voluntourism”—whereas often white, privileged youth pay to travel to another country under the perception that people or children living in poverty “need their help”. Volunteer roles in this model can involve building a school, a well, or teaching children—all of which do not address inequities in access to resources. These models communicate only white, North American-based volunteers can provide lifesaving services by travelling to another country.

Another example can be found in the mentorship space. Some Ontario-based programs have anecdotally reported high populations of minority youth seeking mentors, and high populations of white mentors looking to share their wisdom. Some organizations have sought to change this imbalance of racialized representation by researching why male, Black mentors are not filling mentorship roles through their traditional recruitment strategies. Recognizing the value of lived experiences, and working to welcome those individuals in mentorship spaces, is one way to build empathy into program design.

Leaning into Empathy and Away from Saviourism

As each of our identities is unique, sympathizing with everyone is impossible – but empathizing with anyone is achievable! Leaning into empathy in volunteerism can help us move away from a saviourism mentality. Empathizing is especially important as many non-profits engaging volunteers, many who are white-identifying, are providing access to human rights (food, shelter, connection) for community members who may be racialized or systematically disadvantaged by racism or colonialism.

What are the ways that white bodied volunteers can put empathy into action? Read our complimentary blog, 10 Ways to Put Empathy into Action for more action steps.

Envisioning an Empathetic Volunteerism Sector

What would volunteerism look like if every volunteer came to their role with empathy? What if volunteer programs were designed to avoid saviourism and sympathetic mentalities? And what is the role of Volunteer Toronto in enabling this future? We don’t have all the answers, but we continue to pose these questions to ourselves and our community.

One potential direction could be increased support for solidarity movements and mutual aid groups, and away from traditional volunteerism in non-profits. In this model, empathy is facilitated through connections with fellow community members, compared to ‘help’ from a sympathetic volunteer. We have seen the effectiveness of this type of resource sharing during the early days of COVID-19, however, the sheer quantity of needs that exist in our society, and society’s lack of prioritization for taking empathetic actions (like getting to know your neighbour), means this type of organizing must be supported by real change at the systems level of our social supports.

An empathetic volunteer sector could also see volunteer roles that are dually embedded in addressing symptoms and tackling systems. For example, volunteer-engaging programs would include rights-based advocacy to build new systems that would address access to food, while addressing immediate food security needs. This would require more volunteers to step up for causes they care about with an empathetic lens and actively consider the necessary changes to dismantle harmful systems. At the very least, volunteers should be aware of how to empathize before they are in front of people who face different realities than they do.

For Volunteer Toronto, we know our touchpoints with both volunteers, organizations and institutions influence how roles are designed and what perspectives volunteers hold when choosing to engage with community. As a bridge—and our city’s major educator and advocate for volunteerism—we will continue to take steps to actively enable solidarity movements, build our sector’s capacity to address necessary systemic changes in traditional volunteerism and provide access and opportunities for community members to shape the future of volunteerism through empathy.