Nina Arwitz
CEO, Volunteer Ireland
COVID-19 has shown us the best of the Irish spirit with an unprecedented number of people offering to volunteer over the last couple of months.
Thousands of people have signed up to the national volunteering database, I-VOL, over the last two months.
As usual, the people of Ireland have shown their true spirit and willingness to help those less fortunate in their time of need.
How have volunteers responded to COVID-19?
Volunteers have taken on many roles to support the response to COVID-19. From checking in on those cocooning, to greeting people at HSE test centres, to making face masks for those in need – volunteers have been critical to the country’s quick response.
This is alongside our existing front-line volunteers like first responders and blood bikes.
With social distancing, volunteering might look a bit different from before, but it will still be the backbone of our communities and will impact the lives of so many.
Along with volunteer centres, we have also been working closely with local authorities across the country answering the Community Call.
Here, volunteers have been helping vulnerable members of our communities by doing their shopping or collecting their prescriptions.
How else can volunteers help?
The best thing we can all do right now to help is to stay home and stay safe. But that doesn’t mean you can’t volunteer.
You can check out our #volunteerfromhome campaign, highlighting all the ways you can volunteer to help support your world from the comfort of your home.
For example, Aware is looking for support line volunteers to help people dealing with depression, in response to an increased need for their service during this period of uncertainty for many people.
There are even some roles you can do at home like making masks for vulnerable members of our communities.
Elsewhere, there’s micro-volunteering, which takes just a few minutes at a time and can often be done on your phone.
You could count penguins in remote regions across the world or keep track of bees and insects in your garden. You could try virtual volunteering, done from home through technology, and many other organisations are looking for help with their social media or websites.
How will volunteering look in the future?
As restrictions are lifted and we move to the ‘new normal,’ more people will require the services of community and voluntary organisations across the country.
More than ever before, these organisations will need the support of volunteers. With so many people offering to help, now is a great time for organisations to get in touch with their local volunteer centre and see how they can connect you.
With social distancing, volunteering might look a bit different from before, but it will still be the backbone of our communities and will impact the lives of so many.
We’re already putting advice and supports in place to help organisations think about how they can adapt their volunteer programme in the coming months to make sure Ireland’s volunteering spirit remains as strong as ever!