Volunteers needed to help feed Subury's vulnerable population
It's another huge impact of the pandemic. Many non profits like the Elgin Street Mission that rely on volunteers to operate and deliver many social services are running low on people willing to give of their time.
It comes at a time when the need to prepare more meals is rising, but volunteer numbers are down.
The Elgin Street Mission relies almost solely on volunteers to prepare breakfast and supper to feed more people struggling with food insecurity every day.
"We saw an increase of meals at 1,100 extra meals between the month of July and August and so serving that many more meals we do need more help," said Amanda Robichaud, director of the Elgin Street Mission.
Officials said their volunteer base is down by 20 per cent, making it a real struggle to meet the growing need. The Mission has now made its volunteer schedule more flexible.
"We want to be very, very flexible for the good people who give their time here," said Robichaud.
"And we know that people have busy schedules and so we have different hours during the day, during the evening and on weekends."
Officials said the volunteer shortage has forced the Elgin Street Mission to close coffee hour from 9:30-11 a.m., Monday to Friday, something clients miss dearly.
"This is where they sit together as a family and talk amongst each other," said Ginette Grandmaison, the facility supervisor.
"It's a sense of their piece of feeling of wanting and needing. They miss it a lot I hear it every day."
A recent survey by the Ontario Nonprofit Network shows 62 per cent of organizations have lost volunteers, more than half report having difficulty recruiting new ones and 40 per cent are busy convincing previous volunteers to return.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.