Social & Community Services Organizations in Vancouver

3981 Main Street
Vancouver, BC

About the Lower Mainland Down Syndrome Society….

The Lower Mainland Down Syndrome Society is a not-for-profit society, established in 1989. Our members believe. that individuals with Down syndrome are capable of full participation in society and should be given the opportunity. to develop their potential.

To make this mission come to life, the Lower Mainland Down Syndrome Society aims to:

- Provide information, support, and resources to individuals with Down Syndrome in BC and their families.
- Provide information about Down Syndrome and resources to people and organizations who support. individuals with Down Syndrome and their families
- Advocate that governments and appropriate agencies provide the special resources often needed by individuals with Down Syndrome and their families.
- Lobby for appropriate educational, vocational, and social opportunities
- Support families and increase public awareness.
- Network with other organizations and individuals

VOLUNTEER JOB POSTING Position: Marketing & Promotion

Organization Mission Statement

The ME|FM Society of BC is a charity, run by patients, carers and their families, formed to help and support patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and/or Fibromyalgia (FM).

Our society works to help ME and FM patients in British Columbia improve their health and quality of life by providing information about these illnesses, and guidance on how to seek and obtain support, appropriate medical help and treatments. Please see our website for more about our goals and what we do (https://www.mefm.bc.ca/programs).

Position Description

The ME|FM Society of BC is seeking a volunteer to assist us with our social media presence and contributions to the online community. This role is ideal for someone looking to break into the Marketing and Social Media scene, have an impact in healthcare, and give back to a vulnerable population facing multiple barriers.

We are looking for a creative and social media savvy individual to coordinate the Society’s online activities. Your aim will be to implement a cutting edge social media strategy that raises awareness of Society work, and coordinate the regular management and content creation for the Society’s social media platforms (predominantly Facebook and Website, but we are open to others).

The ME|FM Marketing volunteer will:

- Provide information about services and supports for ME or FM patients on our online platforms
- Promote donation drives annually
- Provide basic education about the illness and resources for the online community
- Create & update a cutting edge social media strategy
- Implement bold, new ideas to raise awareness of the Society’s work
- Maintain a focus on innovative approaches in social media engagement.

This position is ongoing, with no set start or end date, and most of the work can be done remotely. We are looking for a team member who wants to stay and grow with us long term.

Preferred skills

- Have interest in or be willinging to learn website management
- Interest in social media content development
- Experience/interest with implementing social media strategies
- An eagerness to work independently as well as in a team environment.
- The ability to respond to communications in a timely manner
- Highly experienced in social media tools and implementation of social media strategies
- Some experience working in social media, communication and marketing related field

Qualifications

- Be 16+ years of age
- Reliable access to a computer & internet
- Individual who enjoys being online & creating content

Role suitable for

- Individuals who have ME or FM
- Individuals who are caregivers for those who have ME or FM
- Individuals who have an interest in working in communications

Additional Information

- Must read training manual and be familiar with the website
- Must sign confidentiality agreement
- Must meet with Administrator (phone) before starting volunteer work

Time Commitment

- The position requires approximately 1-2 hours of work per week

Benefits of volunteering include

- Making a difference in people’s lives
- Bringing about social and organizational change
- Developing content to raise awareness for ME|FM and the Society activities
- Ongoing education and development

Contact

Please send your Letter of interest to admin@mefm.bc.ca letting us know why you are interested in this role and volunteering with the Society.

Make-A-Wish Canada is an independently operating affiliate of Make-A-Wish international. We create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, and we are on a quest to bring every eligible child's wish to life, because a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. Make-A-Wish is the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization, operating in 50 countries. Here in Canada, we serve children in every community from coast to coast to coast.

The Marpole Community Food Hub is open every Thursday to address the food insecurity in our community. We receive food donations from the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and The Salvation Army every Wednesday, which we bag up and distribute on Thursday mornings. Our immediate need is for volunteers on Wednesday morning to unload help sort the deliveries.  We follow current Covid protocols with masking, hand-sanitizing and gloves.  We request that our volunteers are up to date with their Covid Vaccinations as we work with vulnerable members of the public.

Founded in 1986, Mavis McMullen Housing Society (MMHS) is a grassroots non-profit charitable organization committed to providing women-led safe housing and building community for at-risk families. The Society came to be through the efforts of a group of women living and working in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside who saw a need for permanent, safe and affordable housing for women and their children. The Society operates two housing complexes: Mavis McMullen Place, located in the Downtown Eastside, has 34 suites providing housing for 55 residents; Haley Place, located in East Vancouver, contains 39 suites housing 79 residents.

The Metro Vancouver Dream Centre works to bridge the issues of food insecurity and food waste. Through our two ongoing primary projects, a hot meal service and a community food bank, we work to provide donated food to people who need it. Our meal service is held two Fridays a month in East Vancouver, and we serve a nutritious dinner to approximately 70 to 100 people. Our no-barrier food bank is held two Fridays a month in East Vancouver and serves approximately 80 to 100 people.

We also put on an annual Thanksgiving dinner for the community, where we serve a full Thanksgiving meal to 300 to 500 people.

Our clients come from many types of situations. Some live outdoors or in shelters, while many have apartments or rooms. Some are on social assistance, and some work but are unable to afford both rent and food. Some are elderly, and we also serve families with children. Our volunteers are a diverse group working together for a common purpose: reducing food waste, increasing access to nutritious food, and creating community.

Repair Cafés are community gatherings where fixer volunteers help visitors repair their broken household items - Electronics, Small Appliances, Textile, Jewelry, Woodwork, and Bikes. Open to the public free of charge, Repair Cafes aim to reduce waste, fix the throw-away culture, share repair knowledge and create better community.

Metro Vancouver Repair Cafes work to expand the Repair Cafe program throughout Lower Mainland

Mission Possible transforms lives through meaningful work. We empower people typically excluded from the traditional workforce—like those facing homelessness and housing insecurity, poverty, and other barriers to employment—by paving a pathway to long-term jobs and lasting change.

We support youth discover their unique gifts and an ability to trust themselves deeply enough to have the kind of self-reliance that will bring out the best of who they are. We empower youth to lead authentic and connected lives, through modern rights of passage, self-discovery and creativity.

The Mount Pleasant Community Policing Centre (MPCPC) is a volunteer-driven non-profit governed by a community-based board. The MPCPC promotes crime prevention and safety in partnership with residents, community agencies and the Vancouver Police Department. Additionally, by acting as a liaison between the Vancouver Police Department and community agencies the MPCPC works to create a safe and inclusive neighborhood while supporting the community's most vulnerable. The MPCPC engages the community in volunteer-driven programs and other community-based services. Building on that, the MPCPC operates a warm and welcoming storefront to connect residents with those CPC programs and other community-based services.

Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House plays a leadership role in building a healthy and engaged neighbourhood by connecting people and strengthening their capacity to create change.