BRAMPTON ON – The Ontario Trillium Foundation demonstrated its commitment to enabling the community to withstand and recover from the impacts of the pandemic by awarding two grants through the Resilient Communities Fund to Volunteer Mississauga Brampton Caledon (Volunteer MBC). MPP for Brampton South, Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria, kicked off Volunteer MBC’s 2023 Annual General Meeting with remarks about OTF’s commitment on May 25th.
“It’s a great opportunity as I continue to learn about the incredible organizations that are out there in the community serving so many different needs, and Volunteer MBC is a great example of that. I am happy that the Ontario Trillium Foundation through the Government of Ontario has been able to help,” said MPP Sarkaria, who is also President of the Treasury Board in the Ontario Legislature. “I know COVID has been a very difficult year, in terms of the revenue and how you have been impacted. I’ve talked to many not-for-profits with respect to donations, gala dinners, holding events where so many sponsors would come out—so many community events that just couldn’t happen this year.”
As the local volunteer centre serving Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon, Volunteer MBC has always been known for being a good way for the community to find volunteer opportunities that match their skills, interests, and availability. However, the pandemic fragmented the not-for-profit sector and displaced the staff at many organizations, and often it is challenging for community members to get involved meaningfully. The funds from OTF are empowering Volunteer MBC to expand its services for local not-for-profit organizations, support volunteer engagment, and ensure that diverse audiences, especially youth, have greater access to learning about and getting involved in important causes in their communities.
“This funding is essential for systemic change in our communities,” said Carine Strong, Volunteer MBC’s Executive Director. “We serve a diverse population and volunteering is vital to the health and wellbeing, skills and employability, and community belonging of everyone here. But things are changing so quickly, we have to support the capacity of the not-for-profit sector through good volunteer engagement and inclusive programs.”
On June 21st, Volunteer MBC will host its annual volunteer recognition event, the 2023 V-Oscars. After three consecutive years of holding the event virtually due to the pandemic, the V-Oscars returns in-person in a new format at a major Cineplex in Mississauga. The celebration will honour volunteer nominees from dozens of local not-for-profit organizations
Volunteer MBC is a collective comprised of hundreds of not-for-profit organizations providing important programs and services in Peel. The centre provides backbone supports to these members organizations in volunteer recruitment and recognition, learning, community engagement and collaboration. Its primary frontline service is a referral system that connects people to volunteer opportunities at www.volunteermbc.org.
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