Celebrating Local Impact: Volunteer Week Expo Coming To Invercargill
Press Release – Southland Regional Development Agency
Held in support of National Volunteer Week – Te Wiki Tao -Motu, the free event will showcase community-focused organisations that rely on volunteers to deliver vital services across the region.
Southlanders are being invited to discover the power of volunteering and connect with local organisations making a real difference at the Volunteer Week Expo, taking place on Saturday 21 June at Invercargill Central Mall.
Held in support of National Volunteer Week – Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu, the free event will showcase community-focused organisations that rely on volunteers to deliver vital services across the region.
From emergency services and environmental groups to social support and arts organisations, the expo is a chance for locals to explore how they can get involved – whether they have an hour a month or a day a week to give.
Great South General Manager Tourism and Events Mark Frood said the event was about celebrating the impact volunteers had in our community and showing people how easy it is to take that first step into volunteering.
'There are so many ways to make a difference, and this expo gives people a chance to talk directly with the organisations doing the mahi – no pressure, just friendly conversations about how you might be able to help,' he said.
Great South is delivering the expo as part of the region's contribution to National Volunteer Week – Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu, using the national campaign's branding and messaging to amplify local efforts and celebrate the power of volunteering across Southland.
The expo will run from 10am to 3pm on Saturday 21 June on the Ground Floor of Invercargill Central Mall. No registration is needed, and everyone is welcome.
'Whether you're new to the area, have recently retired, or just want to give back in a way that suits your lifestyle – there's a place for everyone in Southland's volunteer network,' Frood said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Otago Daily Times
‘In Need' event giving back for nine years
Melissa Aitken is looking forward to meeting new people at the 18th Southlanders In Need event in Invercargill. PHOTO: NINA TAPU A passion to give is once again bringing people together to help those most in need. For nine years Melissa Aitken, driven by her desire to help others, has been organising an annual Southlanders in Need day. This year's event, planned for next month, will once again see dozens of Southlanders provide free services to up to 1000 vulnerable people. "All of my helpers [say] . . . it's their most favourite day of the year, [because] they get to give back to [their] community, " she said. Ms Aitken said she had always had a passion for helping people and was grateful to her helpers for volunteering their services and time for the initiative. Free haircuts, massages and health checks would be among services available on the day. Fire and Emergency Invercargill staff would be taking registrations for free smoke alarm installations. The Zonta Women's Club and a mobile dental service led by dentist Manu Aroha Walker would be on site. Southlanders are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items for grocery bag gifts. This week, people can start dropping off donations of food and clothing to the Southland Express office at 5 The Crescent, Invercargill until, noon, Friday, July 25. Southlanders In Need will be held from 1pm-3.30pm, Sunday, July 27, at Aurora College gymnasium, Tramway Rd, Invercargill. For more information view Ms Aitken's social media page Free Haircuts/Services For Southlanders In Need or call her on 027 533-3600.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Volunteer urges others to give it a go
To celebrate National Volunteer Week, The Star highlights one of Dunedin's unsung heroes — Otago Community Hospice and Christmas can collection stalwart Aimee Taylor. Brenda Harwood reports. In typical fashion, stalwart Dunedin volunteer Aimee Taylor was a little reluctant to step into the limelight and be celebrated for her efforts. But the chance to highlight the immense benefits of volunteering for individuals and organisations alike, and to encourage others to become volunteers, convinced her that it was worth it. Alongside her busy role as a career firefighter, based at the Dunedin Central Fire Station, Ms Taylor is also a stalwart volunteer — doing regular shifts in the Otago Community Hospice kitchen and stepping up to organise the annual Combined Dunedin Foodbanks Christmas Can Collection. Ms Taylor started volunteering at the hospice several years ago, after witnessing the excellent supportive care given to family members and friends and deciding to give back. "Because I do shift work as a firefighter, I am able to slot into kitchen shifts around what is needed, including lunch service and dinner service," she said. Working alongside hospice head chef Rose Tamplin, Ms Taylor helps to create tempting individual meals for in-patients, as well as catering for community support groups, training sessions and meetings. "It's great to be involved in helping to care for patients at the hospice, as well as providing for some of the many other people who provide and receive support there," she said. Otago Community Hospice has about 400 volunteers, who tackle a broad range of important tasks that help keep the facility running, including reception, cleaning, kitchen work, gardening and working in the hospice shops. "There is a constant rotation of people coming through to do those vital volunteer jobs, it's quite amazing," Ms Taylor said. However, more volunteers were always needed at the hospice, and she urged anyone interested to give it a go. "It is a very satisfying thing to do, and the hospice is great at looking after and celebrating their volunteers." As a firefighter, Ms Taylor had been involved in the Christmas can collection, which is supported by local emergency services, for a few years before stepping up to become organiser of the event. "It is such an important support for our local major foodbanks, so I wanted to do all I could to help. "And having formerly worked as an event organiser, it is something I enjoy doing and have the skills for," she said. The Christmas can collection helps to fill up the shelves at Dunedin's Presbyterian Support Otago Family Works foodbank, the Salvation Army foodbank and the St Vincent de Paul foodbank at what is a difficult time of year for many families. "Last Christmas, we had more than 200 volunteers for the collection, including drivers of appliances and collection vehicles, runners and packers. "It was so much fun, and a really rewarding thing to do — the community really supports it generously." Describing volunteering as her "happy place", Ms Taylor urged others to give it a go. "It's a great feeling to be involved in something like that."
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Bay of Plenty firefighter, surf rescuer share why they volunteer
This week is National Volunteer Week, honouring the collective energies and efforts of millions of Kiwis who give their time and skills to communities. Journalist Stuart Whitaker spoke to two of the many volunteers in the Western Bay of Plenty community: Volunteer firefighter Diana Hutchings and Pukehina Surf Rescue treasurer
