Volunteer Opportunities

The following volunteer opportunities have been posted by the Halifax & Region MFRC Volunteer Coordinator. If you have any questions about them, please e-mail the coordinator volunteer@halifaxmfrc.ca

Click on the following links for details on upcoming volunteer opportunities:

Front desk receptionist volunteers needed for our Shearwater site: Click here for a full job description

Op We Care’s Planning Committee needs your help!  Click here for info.

Applications and information on volunteering are available at the following link: http://www.halifaxmfrc.ca/volunteer/

Reception/Administrative Support – Shearwater & Halifax Sites

Volunteers will answer the phone, greet clients and direct incoming inquiries, process payments for programs (cash, credit card and debit), enter data and complete special projects. Volunteers will also complete Military Family Identification Cards and receive parcels to be mailed to deployed Canadian Forces (CF) members. Volunteers primarily work from the Shearwater Site, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday. Schedules can be flexible to meet the volunteer’s individual needs. Francophone volunteers are always needed.

 

Operation We Care – Halifax Site

Operation We Care is a volunteer-led initiative supporting CF members from Nova Scotia who are deployed independently throughout various locations around the world. These CF members are not only separated from their families, but also from their regular military units. Through the periodic mailing of ‘care packages’ assembled by volunteers, we aim to boost the morale of these deployed members and remind them that they are thought of and appreciated for the work they do.

 

All volunteers will receive training at the Planning Committee Meeting. There will be one Planning Committee Meeting per seasonal period and the meetings last for approximately two hours. Volunteers are asked to support three of the four mail-out periods.

 

Volunteers and staff will stay in touch with each other during the six-week donation recruitment period through email communications. All Planning Committee volunteers are then invited to attend the packing night, where all boxes are assembled, packaged and decorated.

 

Daycares – Shearwater & Halifax Sites

With two provincially-licensed childcare facilities supporting CF families, our Shearwater Site has 163 spaces and our Halifax Site has 63 spaces. Children range in age from 6 months to 5 years of age. Volunteers support the daycares in many ways.

 

Skating – Shearwater Site

Between October to March, volunteers are needed to assist in the transition of daycare children from the MFRC to the PSP Flyers Arena (a short 10 minute walk). While at the rink, volunteers will assist the daycare staff in tying skates and getting the children ready to skate. Volunteers are also welcome to skate with the children. Skating is held on Tuesdays. Please Note: Volunteers must wear a CSA approved hockey helmet while on the ice.

 

Swimming – Shearwater Site

Between April to September, volunteers are needed to assist in the transition of daycare children from the MFRC to the PSP Fitness and Sports Centre (a short 10-minute walk). Swimming is held on Friday mornings. Volunteers will assist the daycare staff in getting the children changed and ready to swim. Volunteers will interact and participate in the swim session with the children, while being supported by the staff.

 

Classroom Assistant – Shearwater & Halifax Sites

Volunteers can assist staff in various program rooms within the daycare, from the infant and junior/senior toddlers to the pre-school aged children. Volunteers assist with a variety of areas, including free-play, reading, meal support, circle time and crafts. Volunteer shifts typically last for two to three hours, between 8:30/9:00am to 11:30/12:00pm and 2:00/2:30pm to 4:00/4:30pm.

 

Field Trip – Shearwater & Halifax Sites

Each daycare will offer periodic field trips between the spring and fall, Monday through Friday; mornings or afternoons. Volunteers will assist staff with the children in the transition to and from the field trip destinations via Metro Transit.  Field trip destinations may include parks, playgrounds, public libraries and recreation centers.

 

Playground Maintenance/Construction –Shearwater & Halifax Sites

As a not-for-profit organization, we rely on volunteer support to assist in the ongoing repair and maintenance of the playground structures and equipment.  Volunteers in this role should have a working knowledge of minor construction projects to assist in annual upkeep. Volunteers may be asked to build or repair play structures, obtain quotations for various project supplies and assist in the upkeep of the pea gravel with periodic sweepings. Often, volunteers will work with a small team of other volunteers and should have access to their own tools and/or equipment. This is a seasonal position from spring to late fall.

 

Program Facilitation – Shearwater & Halifax Sites:

Operation We Care, Coffee Connections, Café Francais, Brunch Bunch

Volunteers will work in partnership with staff in planning programs and activities.  For some programs, volunteers will facilitate the program on their own.  Volunteers in this role should have a comfort level in working with groups, creating a welcoming environment, managing organizational details and possess excellent problem solving skills. Volunteers in this role should also have a sound knowledge of the programs and services the MFRC offers.

 

Handyperson/Maintenance – Shearwater & Halifax Sites

As a not-for-profit organization, we periodically rely on volunteers to assist us with various maintenance and project-related tasks. This could include assembly of toys in the daycare, assembling desks, painting, organizing storage rooms, moving equipment/resources, affixing bulletin boards to the wall, etc.

 

Community Outreach – Shearwater, Halifax, Cape Breton and Outlying Communities in Nova Scotia

Information Displays, Briefings, Parades, Carnivals, Festivals, Community Events

From the spring to late fall, the MFRC attends many outreach events in the community. We are invited to participate in a variety of parades (Cole Harbour Harvest Festival and Eastern Passage Carnival) where we hand out treats to the children along the parade route. We are also present at Natal and Canada Day events within HRM, as well as outlying areas such as Pictou/New Glasgow, Truro and CapeBreton, where we set up our information display and talk to community members about the supports and services we offer. We are also asked to give a variety of local briefings to community groups and military units where we will utilize volunteers to assist in promoting our services.

 

Special Projects – Shearwater & Halifax Sites

There are many one-time special projects that volunteers can assist with, including:

-Educational displays                                               -Fundraising

-Data entry                                                                 -Information displays

-Assembly of information/welcome packages       -Database design

-Briefings                                                                   -Organizing/filing

-Creating resource binders                                      -Research

-Shopping                                                                  -Designing bulletin boards

-Cooking                                                                    -Sewing

-Inventory                                                                    -Deployment treat assembly

-Scrapbooking

 

Special Event Lead Volunteer – Shearwater & Halifax Sites

Volunteers work in partnership with MFRC staff in coordinating special events and managing event volunteers. Volunteers in this role must have excellent communication skills, be detail orientated and work well with people. The ability to solve problems and be detail orientated is critical.

 

Computer Support – Shearwater & Halifax Site

As a not-for-profit organization, we have a variety of computers for public use that require periodic maintenance and upkeep. We also have a set of computers located at our Shearwater Youth Centre. Regular maintenance and virus upkeep are part of ongoing needs.

 

Translation Services – Shearwater Site

Volunteers assisting in translation services should have a sound working knowledge of French and English. Translations will support content on our website, Facebook page, Twitter feed and in regular communications through the eNews. Volunteers can be flexible in choosing the days and times they would like to volunteer.
Graphic Design – Shearwater & Halifax Site

Volunteer support in this area would be around editing publications and promotional resources, design and layout for print, image cropping, banners and multimedia. Volunteers would need to have their own software applications, such as Adobe Illustrator and InDesign. Volunteers for this position would work primarily from their home, while consulting with Services Team staff at the MFRC.

 

Newsletter/Article Writing/Editing Web Page

Volunteers can write articles to contribute towards internal MFRC publications, as well as monthly articles for the MFRC section in the local military newspaper, the Trident. Volunteers should be proficient in the English language, have excellent communication skills and have a structural background in putting together a story outline. Volunteers should have good organizational skills and be accurate and detail orientated. Volunteers can also assist in web page content development and proofreading. Volunteers in this role can work from home, at the MFRC of their choice, or by attending local events.

 

Program Support:

Tumble Tots, Youth Centre Drop In, Parent & Tot, Francophone Events, Deployment Café, Gymboree, March Break, Summer Camp

Volunteers are often used to support MFRC programs and will work in partnership with staff in the set up/tear down and overall program facilitation.  Volunteers are connectors with the community and assist to create a friendly and welcoming environment. Volunteers should be familiar with the types of programs and services the MFRC offers to CF families. For further information on the volunteer roles and expectations for programs like this, please contact the Volunteer Services Department directly.

 

Seasonal or Special Events – Shearwater & Halifax Sites and in the Community:

MFRC Welcome Party, Holiday & Family Events, DND Family Days, Nova Scotia International Air Show, 12-Wing Fall Fest

The MFRC is out and about within the community to educate, promote and fundraise. There are numerous family events where volunteer support is required, including Francophone events. The MFRC hosts many special events throughout the year and registered volunteers can sign up for these one-time volunteer opportunities that may include:

 

-Craft station                                      -Children’s game station

-Snack/food/BBQ station                 -Information display

-Mascot/costume                              -Registration desk

-Surveys                                             -Selling tickets

-Sport activities                                 -Food decorating

 

 

Photography

Volunteers should have some basic photography skills and be able to operate a digital camera. Professional experience is not required, but an eye for detail is necessary. Volunteers must have great people skills, be friendly, professional and outgoing. Volunteers will be asked to attend MFRC special events to take interactive pictures of community members and volunteers alike. Equipment is supplied, however, volunteers can use their own photography equipment if they prefer.

 

Warm Line Calls

For CF members experiencing a separation from their families due to a deployment or for training/operational requirement, trained MFRC volunteers will contact local family members. Volunteers will offer information and provide any necessary referral service over the phone. Volunteers work as a team and will make designated phone calls as directed from the MFRC. Warm Line volunteers should have excellent communication and listening skills and be very familiar with MFRC programs and services. Warm Line volunteers receive a training session and are supported extensively by deployment staff.

 

Deployment Departures/Homecomings

The H&R MFRC is involved in a ship or a large-unit deployment by offering support services, as well as providing refreshments and other needs to families on site during the departure and homecoming. Volunteers who assist in this role must have excellent people skills and offer a kind and supportive environment.  Departures and homecomings can be at the dockyard, at the Halifax or Shearwater MFRC or other pre-determined sites.

 

Deployment Support

During ships’ deployments, the MFRC will strike up a volunteer team to assist with Family Network events, including special events, Commanding Officer (CO) Briefings, video taping and video teleconferencing. Volunteer commitment is for the length of the deployment and usually lasts six months. Volunteers will work as part of a team and can generally expect to volunteer once a month for an afternoon or evening activity. Volunteers in this role must have excellent people skills, be very familiar with H&R MFRC programs and services and be both engaging and supportive while working with families. Volunteers work closely with deployment staff in running these events and activities.