National Volunteer Week is almost here! Happening April 14 - 20, the annual celebration of Canada's culture of service is - it goes without saying - one of our favourite times of the year!
In 2024, the theme is Every Moment Matters, which we love because it's so expansive. You can count Canada's total number of volunteers, and even the number of hours they contribute. But the meaningful moments that emerge from acts of service? That's something you can't quantify.
Think of the senior who lights up during conversations with a volunteer visitor. Or the young athlete who improves their performance and gains self-confidence thanks to the patient instruction of a volunteer coach.
Whether fleeting or long-lasting, these are the moments upon which community is built. They happen every day, all around us, too numerous to count. And in every case, volunteers make them possible.
Here at RCRG, we're celebrating National Volunteer Week with a public art project. As a first step, we worked with local illustrator Cartoon Katie to create a map of Richmond, featuring several notable landmarks.
We've since printed a large-scale version of the map - 7 feet wide by 5 feet tall! - and have begun decorating the border with volunteer photos, submitted by various community organizations.
The photos are a visual representation of the volunteer moments that connect and strengthen our community. While we could never highlight every act of community service, we've done our best to capture the vibrant diversity of Richmond's volunteer spirit, which encompasses all ages and cultures and backgrounds.
Throughout National Volunteer Week, the map and photos will be on display at the Richmond Caring Place, giving you a chance to see the artwork up close and in person. We'll also be sharing the photos, along with accompanying stories and descriptions, on our social media channels.
Together, let's turn National Volunteer Week into an unforgettable moment, marked by gratitude and appreciation for all the Richmond residents who give their time so that our community can shine!