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The Christmas Exchange - Le Partage de Noêl How to Help
Become a Volunteer  

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Thank you for your interest in volunteer opportunities at the Christmas Exchange. Volunteers are our most valuable resource and therefore we rely on hundreds of individuals, groups, businesses and family members to help us meet our goal of helping those in need over the December holiday season. Our volunteers help in many ways from performing general office duties such as making telephone calls, stuffing envelopes, data entry, to assisting at special fundraising events as well as packing food hampers and hamper delivery.

Below are the many volunteer opportunities that are available at the Christmas Exchange. New opportunities will be added as the need arises so please keep checking the website. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please click here to fill out our online volunteer application.

We are also looking for volunteers to be members on our Board of Directors as well as on the Program Committee and Fundraising Committee. If you are interested in volunteering for these positions, please click here for more information.

Envelope Stuffing

Volunteers are required on December 9, 10 and 11, 2009 to stuff food vouchers.

Location: Christmas Exchange Office
Time Availability: Daytime 9:30 am to 5:00 pm with possible evening hours depending on volume.

NOTE: Due to the handling of confidential client information, volunteers must be 18 years and older and sign a confidentiality agreement.

Computer Data Entry

Volunteers needed October, November and December to help enter client referrals into our database.

Location: Christmas Exchange Office
Time Availability: Weekdays Daytime 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Possibly some evening hours and Saturdays depending on volume.

NOTE: Due to the handling of confidential client information, volunteers must be 18 years and older and sign a confidentiality agreement.

Telephone calls and scheduling appointments for toy pick-ups and hampers

Do you have a friendly voice and enjoy talking with people over the phone. Volunteers are needed during the months of October, November and December to make phone calls to confirm appointments for toy pick-ups and hampers deliveries. The ability to speak other languages is a definite asset.

Location: Christmas Exchange Office
Time Availability: Weekdays Daytime 9:30 am to 7:00 pm and some evening hours.

NOTE: Due to the handling of confidential client information, volunteers must be 18 years and older and sign a confidentiality agreement.

Hamper Delivery

Volunteers are needed on Monday, December 21, 2009 to deliver food hampers to those in need. This is a rewarding and enjoyable opportunity for friends or families to spend a few hours together delivering hampers. Approximately 60 drivers with their own cars are needed with a team-mate for each driver to deliver the hampers. Please allow considerations for winter weather driving conditions (such as snow and ice) and for heavy lifting of hamper boxes weighing 30-50 lbs each.

When applying online for this volunteer opportunity, please indicate in the Additional Comments section of the application as to whether you have a teammate to deliver the hampers with or if you require a teammate and whether you are interested in being the driver or accompanying the driver.

Time Availability: Daytime. Hampers must be picked up before 2:00 pm and deliveries occur between 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

NOTE: Due to the handling of confidential client information, volunteers must be 18 years and older and sign a confidentiality agreement.

Special Events

Are you a ‘people person’ who enjoys dealing with the public, possess strong communication skills, and like to have fun? We require volunteers who are willing to attend and help with a variety of fundraising events that occur September through December. Sign up for one event or as many events as you like. This is a great opportunity for individuals, families, service groups and businesses to get involved. In the Additional Comments section on the online volunteer application, please let us know if there is a specific event you are interested in helping with.

Pennies for Portions Event

A fundraising event involving local schools collecting pennies, dimes, nickels, quarters, loonies, toonies and even some paper money for Christmas Exchange. Volunteers with a car are needed to visit the various participating schools in December and early January to pick up the coins and bring back to the office. There is some heavy lifting of coins. Volunteers are also needed to wrap the collected coins.

Location: Visiting various local schools in the Ottawa area. Coin wrapping is done at the Christmas Exchange Office.
Time Availability: Weekdays, Daytime 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, on call as once the schools inform us that they are ready for a pick-up, we will pass the information along.

Candy Cane Sales

Volunteers are needed on Saturday, November 28th to help sell candy canes to people as they come through the entrances at Carlingwood Shopping Centre. This is a fundraiser for Christmas Exchange in partnership with Carlingwood Shopping Centre. Volunteers work in teams of 2 people. In your application, please indicate if you already have a partner you will be working with and provide their name, email and phone #. Also, indicate a first and a second choice for shifts which we will try to accommodate, depending on availability. If you are available to do more than one shift, please indicate this as well.

When: Saturday, November 28
Location: Carlingwood Shopping Centre
Available shifts: 9:15 to 11:00 am, 11:00 to 1:00 pm, and 1:00 to 3:00 pm

Christmas Cheer Broadcast

Volunteers are needed to collect donations at Rideau Centre in Eaton Court during the Christmas Cheer Broadcast on Thursday, December 3rd. Volunteers work in teams of 2 people. In your application, please indicate if you already have a partner you will be working with and provide their name, email and phone number. Also, indicate a first and a second choice for shifts which we will try to accommodate, depending on availability. If you are available to do more than one shift, please indicate this as well.

When: Thursday, December 3rd
Location: Rideau Centre, Eaton Court
Available shifts: 9:00 to 11:00 am; 11:00 am to 1:00 pm; 1:00 to 3:00 pm; 3:00 to 5:00 pm, and 5:00 to 7:00 pm

Running on Empties Event

A fundraising event held at local Ottawa Beer Stores on December 5. Approximately 90 volunteers are needed to stand outside participating beer stores and collect empty beer, wine and spirit bottles donated by customers. This is a great opportunity for local companies or service clubs to lend their support for the Christmas Exchange by managing the collections at a Beer Store. Please note that there is a lot of standing involved outdoors in cold weather as well as heavy lifting but you may get the opportunity to work alongside some VIPs and meet some interesting people.

Location: Participating Beer Stores in the Ottawa area
Time Availability: Morning shift (9:15 am to 1:00 pm) OR afternoon shift (1:00 pm to 5:00 pm). Teams of two people are required for each shift at each beer store.

Volunteer Application Form

To become a volunteer, please complete the information below, and send it online. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

The Christmas Exchange collects the application information to ensure effective communication, volunteer recognition and volunteer safety. Your information will not be shared with any other organization. You may view the Christmas Exchange Privacy Policy.

Contact Information
First Name:
Last Name:
Street Address:
City:
Province:
Postal Code:
Phone (day):
Phone (evenings/weekends):
Mobile Phone:
E-mail:
Emergency Contact:
Contact Phone Number:
 
Reasons for volunteering (check all that are applicable)
Volunteer credits for high school students:
Learn New Skills:
Career Development:
Giving Back to the Community:
Looking To Keep Busy:
Meet People:
Other:
 
Availability (check all that are applicable)
Weekdays – daytime:
Weekdays – evenings:
Weekends – daytime:
Weekends – evenings:
 
Languages spoken:
English:
French:
Other:
 
Which activities are you interested in volunteering for? (check as many as appropriate)
*Committee work:
*Special events:
Computer data entry:
Telephone calls and scheduling toy pick-up and hamper appointments:

Envelope stuffing:
Mailout of Food Vouchers:
Delivering Hampers:
 
Additional comments
Please provide any additional information that will help us place you as a volunteer, including any volunteer experience you have had and any skills you may have.
* If you are interested in volunteering for Committee work or helping at a special event, please specify the Committee or Special event.
How did you hear about volunteer opportunities at the Christmas Exchange?
   
   
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