National Volunteering Week 2020 officially kicked off this morning with the launch of How Irish Communities Stepped Up To The Mark: Stories Of Irish Volunteering During COVID-19.
This collection of stories showcases the impact of volunteering on all corners of society in recent months.
According to Edwina Dewart, Dublin City Volunteer Centre Manager, “Volunteers have been nothing short of phenomenal this year and that’s why we felt it was important to showcase their efforts in this collection of stories. From delivering shopping, making face masks or phoning those in isolation for a simple chat – volunteers made sure no-one was left behind. This collection of stories provides just a snapshot of the incalculable positive impact that the volunteers of Ireland made during the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteer Ireland and the network of Volunteer Centres saw over 20,000 people sign up to volunteer in response to COVID-19, and provided guidance, training and extra support to organisations engaging volunteers.”
Volunteers like Olive Harris collected donations to give to people leaving domestic abuse with CRiTiCALL. Groups like the Irish Cancer Society and Serve the City scaled up their volunteer programme quickly to deliver vital services with support from the network of Volunteer Centres. Across the country, young and old alike wrote letters to residents in nursing homes who couldn’t receive visitors. In every community, volunteers made a difference.
Joe O’Brien TD, Minister of State for Community Development and Charities, added “I’m delighted to be involved in launching what I hope will be a week when volunteers across the country feel especially valued and recognised. This week is all about volunteers and this collection of stories showing the impact of volunteering in recent months is another way of highlighting the tremendous work that has been done. Take time for yourself and remember that this week is all about you and your well-being.”
Along with the launch of the story collection, this week will see a host of free wellness events for volunteers across the country to thank them for their efforts. We are pleased once again to partner with Healthy Ireland who share our passion for the health and well-being of our communities.
Frank Feighan, Minister of State for Public Health, said “As we launch this collection of unique volunteering stories today at the start of National Volunteering Week 2020, I feel that it’s important to state as the Minister with responsibility for the ‘Healthy Ireland’ programme, just how important volunteers and volunteering are in our communities. Volunteering plays a critical role in supporting healthy, resilient communities. This reality has become even more clear since the onset of the COVID19 pandemic. Since March, volunteers have been an integral part of the response to COVID-19 and at the start of National Volunteering Week 2020, I want to thank volunteers nationwide for their dedicated service during this time of national emergency and for ensuring that people’s health and wellbeing were safeguarded. I firmly believe that it is also essential that volunteers take time to focus on their own health and well-being during these challenging times and the months ahead.”
Organisations and volunteers across the country are being encouraged to share their own stories of volunteering on social media during the week using #NVW2020.
How Irish Communities Stepped Up To The Mark: Stories Of Irish Volunteering During Covid-19 can be viewed here.
For further information, please contact Naomi Shea naomi@volutneerdublincity.ie