Volunteering in English at Jeffery Hale Community Services

Jeffery Hale Community Services is dedicated to providing top-quality care to the English-speaking community of the Quebec city region.  This community has a strong tradition of volunteering, and Jeffery Hale is proof-positive of that fact; we simply could not offer the wide range of services that we do without the help of our caring volunteers.

In return for your volunteer time and dedication, we can offer you:

  • A pleasant and safe environment - Jeffery Hale offers a well-organized, family-like atmosphere.  Our volunteers are covered by CSST for workers' compensation.
  • Proper supervision - If you have questions about your job duties, relations with clients, and so forth, our Community Organizer is always there to guide you and help make sure that your volunteer experience with us is positive.
  • An invitation to our annual volunteer appreciation event - Once a year, we hold a special event to say "thank you" to all our volunteers.  It is our way of returning the favour in a small way and a great way for you to meet other members of the community.
  • A letter of reference - We would be happy to provide a letter of reference stating that you are a volunteer at Jeffery Hale.  This can be handy when applying for a job, a bursary, etc.
  • An opportunity to give a gift that lasts - As a Jeffery Hale volunteer, you can meet new people, share your experience and learn from others, and help enrich our clients' quality of life.  It's a chance to be someone special.

Download our volunteer application form today.  Once it is completed, please call our Community Organizer at 418 684-5333, ext.1580, to set up a meeting time. 

Please read on for more details of exactly where we can use your time, talents and skills by selecting any of the categories below. 

Who would you like to help?

I would like to help where help is needed most

  • Transportation - Driving seniors to medical appointments is our most urgent need.  We need drivers with vehicles, as well as non-drivers.  Even if you do not drive, your guiding arm would be most welcome as you go along for the ride. We can reimburse you for your travel expense and we provide at least 48 hours notice for all requests. You have the choice to accept or refuse each request. Even if you can only help out a few times a year, we still have a place for you.
  • Take-a-Break Drop In - This twice-monthly activity at Jeffery Hale helps reduce the isolation of English-speaking families living in the area.  Volunteers work as part of a team to look after children (under five years of age) in order to give parents a break from the stress of parenting and a chance to exchange with other parents. We need volunteers for this program on Friday mornings from November to May.

I would like to help families with young children

  • Baby Food Puree Workshops - Feeding a baby does not cost as much when parents can make their own baby food.  These workshops help parents learn about the food value of baby purees, what foods to introduce and when, and how to create balanced menus for their babies.  Also, parents get to meet others which helps to reduce the loneliness of English-speaking families living in the area.  We need volunteers to cuddle babies so that parents can focus on learning to care for their babies' nutrition needs.
  • Sewing - If you own a sewing machine and like to sew, we welcome your creative efforts on behalf of our families with new babies for our baby-book bag program that encourages parents and kids to read together. You assemble cloth bags using a pattern that we give you. You then fill these bags with baby's first book (donated by La Maison Anglaise), a booklet on reading tips by the Quebec City Reading Council, a free one-year membership to the Library of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec and information about Quebec City's public library programs for young children.
  • Take-a-Break Drop In - This twice-monthly activity at Jeffery Hale helps reduce the isolation of English-speaking families living in the area.  Volunteers work as part of a team to look after children (under five years of age) in order to give parents a break from the stress of parenting and a chance to exchange with other parents. We need volunteers for this program on Friday mornings from November to May.
  • Travellin' Toddler Time - Many English-speaking families in the area have no grandparents living near by.  This activity helps reduce isolation by creating bonds between toddlers and seniors while promoting reading.  We need creative people to read stories, sing songs, help organize crafts and snacks, and assist the seniors in attendance.

I would like to help seniors

  • Bus Buddy - Each week, our Day Centre bus picks up seniors and brings them into Jeffery Hale for a day of activities. Your presence on the bus helps reassure passengers when the driver gets off the bus to help other clients out of their homes and onto the bus.
  • Day Centre - So many of our seniors look forward to attending this activity each week.  You can help brighten up their time at the day centre by baking a birthday cake from time to time or by setting tables, serving meals, eating with seniors and cleaning the kitchen up after lunch, thus freeing our professional staff to spend more quality time with our valued clients.
  • Friendly Calls - Many older English-speaking adults find themselves alone here in the Quebec City region, family members and friends having long since moved away. You can help ease their loneliness with a cheery chat now and then.
  • Grocery Shopping / Errands - The long aisles of a grocery store can be a huge challenge for some older adults and your steady arm to hold is so reassuring. If you prefer, you can take the list and go on your own. A stop or two along the way for other errands may also be requested, such as to the hardware store or post office.
  • In-Home Stimulation - If you attend CEGEP Champlain - St. Lawrence and would like to gain hands-on experience with the elderly, this is the program for you.  Student volunteers are trained to offer one-on-one a variety of stimulating in-home physical and recreational activities to isolated seniors.
  • Living Room - The goal of this program is to improve the quality of life for older adults with severe mobility, cognitive or memory loss and late-stage chronic disease. Your caring and calm one-on-one time with these clients also gives their caregivers the peace of mind to take a break.
  • Special Needs Services - Raising a physically or intellectually disabled child brings parents and caregivers many challenges and successes. We offer inclusive activities for special needs children aged 5 to 25. Being a buddy to such a child gives them a chance to interact socially with others while giving respite to their parents.
  • Telephone Check In - Many of our older clients live alone and are insecure about their health or safety. These short and cheery morning calls are for their security - if they do not answer the phone, we will send someone to check on them.
  • Transportation - Driving seniors to medical appointments is our most urgent need.  We need drivers with vehicles, as well as non-drivers.  Even if you do not drive, your guiding arm would be most welcome as you go along for the ride. We can reimburse you for your travel expense and we provide at least 48 hours notice for all requests. You have the choice to accept or refuse each request. Even if you can only help out a few times a year, we still have a place for you.

I would like to help people of any age

  • Chitchat Club - This special club is Jeffery Hale’s response to the growing demand by French-speakers to do volunteer work in English. Each month, you can help others while you practice your second language. English and French-speakers get together once a month to work to a variety of interesting tasks while conversing in small groups. The Chitchat Club is fun, informal and a great way to make new friends. Francophones, Anglophones and Allophones (people who speak another language besides French or English) are welcome.  For more information, please open the Chitchat Club poster (includes session dates for 2010-'11)
  • Christmas Hamper Campaign - A true community initiative, this annual drive helps put food on the table in over 200 households during the holiday season.  How can you help?  You can donate non-perishable food, donate money, sort food, fill hampers, deliver hampers, and more...
  • Community Events - You can help from time-to-time with a community event, such as Family Fun Day, Family Literacy Day, Jeffery Hale Friends' Foundation annual golf tournament and many more. If you enjoy people and hands-on community activities, we can help you find your niche.
  • Income Tax service - Did you know that even people with little or no revenue must file an income tax return?  Why?  To receive government benefits to which they are entitled such as the GST rebate, old age security and family allowance.  If you enjoy working with numbers and meeting new people, this volunteer job is for you. You will receive training and have access to tax software free of charge.
  • Special Needs Services - Raising a physically or intellectually disabled child brings parents and caregivers many challenges and successes.  We offer many inclusive activities for special needs children aged 5 to 25.  Being a buddy to such a child gives them a chance to interact socially with others while providing respite to their parents.

Download our volunteer application form today. Once it is completed, please call Jan Anderson-Toupin, our Community Organizer, at 418 684-JEFF (5333), ext. 1539, or use our contact us form to set up a meeting time.

 

For information about other volunteer opportunities within our organization, please visit the Become a Volunteer pages of our other sectors: