Those Willing to Lend a Hand Invited to Volunteer Peterborough's Open House

Volunteer Peterborough and District 36 Peterborough of Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTOERO) invites residents to discover meaningful volunteer opportunities at an open house held on March 5, announced on Thursday.

Lois Tuffin (pictured) launching Volunteer Peterborough at Trent University outside Bata Library. Since 1968, RTOERO has been a voice for teachers, school and board administrators, educational support staff and college and university faculty in retirement. Its mission is to improve the lives of its members and other seniors, who often seek rewarding volunteer roles after retirement. Photo by David Tuan bui.

The open house runs from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce’s boardroom at 175 George St. N.

The two groups entered a new partnership and will launch a welcome brochure for residents new to this region or new to volunteering. It outlines the benefits of community work and how to do it.

“Many seniors have the time and inclination to volunteer but don’t know where they can contribute, especially if they’re new to the community,” said Kathryn Reynolds, President, District 36 Peterborough, RTOERO. “Our grant will help Volunteer Peterborough raise awareness. Ultimately, this will strengthen community connections and well-being.”

The most significant current barrier to volunteering is the lack of awareness of which organizations match people’s talents and interests according to Lois Tuffin, Volunteer Peterborough founder.

“We have started to bridge that gap by signing up 1,660 volunteers and 162 organizations,” she said. “However, in a region of 184,000 people, there is still much work to do.”

District 36 has about 1,200 members, serving the City of Peterborough and the surrounding rural areas of Peterborough County.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.