Community Highlights: BCBIGS Volunteering

I, for one, am a huge fan of the holidays, I would celebrate them all if I had enough time. Eating all the delicious special foods, giving gifts to show our love, and most of all spending quality time with those near and dear- it really gets me. The post-holiday hangover though, that’s real too. You’ve been at your aunties house for a week and starting to get sick of each other, you can’t wait to get home to your bed and hibernate with Netflix for a little while, get back to you, count your blessings. When we pause to look around, it’s easy to see the privileges all around us.

November and December are times of giving in our culture but in January everything goes back to normal. January and February are the loneliest months of the year,  with rates of suicide much higher than normal. It can feel jarring for those in less privileged situations, especially those accessing services in our community to help their families get by.

For young kids, there are many free events that parents can sign up for where their children can meet Santa and take a gift home. These are great for parents who can’t afford much for gifts, it helps keep the magic alive and love in their homes. We can’t forget about helping others just because the holidays are over. Especially during the challenging months ahead, it’s important for those of us who are able to put our hearts out and lend a helping hand. 

In October I had a chance to meet with Talia from Boys and Girls Club/ Big Brothers and Big Sisters and she let me know about all the amazing ways we can help out the kids involved in their programming, so check it out! 

Boys and Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters (BGCBigs) is a community-supported organization committed to the healthy development of children, youth, and their families by providing safe places, positive relationships, services, and opportunities to develop personal strengths and interpersonal skills that enhance their long-term success in life. As a Non-Profit organization, we worked with 5600 youth last year with the help of around over 3000 volunteers. 

BCGBigs Mentoring and After-School programs seek to support vulnerable children and youth challenged by the impacts of poverty.

The organization also works in partnership with other community organizations to develop and deliver programs geared to specific populations, such as the immigrant and refugee community, the Indigenous community, and other vulnerable groups (e.g. LGBTQ youth). 

HOW YOU COME IN

Mentoring/Partnering

Mentoring has been shown to be an important component of wraparound community services to support a child’s success in school. Mentoring is defined by the relationship between a caring more experienced or wiser volunteer (e.g. adult or older teen) and a child or younger youth.

Through participation in educational, recreational and social activities with a volunteer mentor, a mentoring relationship provides a child with support, friendship, guidance, and a constructive role model.

BGCBIG Volunteers Change Lives. 

The change is usually small at first. Summoning the courage to order their own meal at a restaurant or learning how to take deep breaths when they’re upset. But that change grows with the child. It becomes confidence and hope. It becomes improved grades in school and a high school diploma. It becomes an unwillingness to dabble in negative behavior like drugs, alcohol, and bullying. And one day, that child becomes a successful, thriving adult. 

As previously mentioned, Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters (BGCBigs) is so fortunate to have the help of over 3,000 caring volunteers. Without volunteers, children and youth simply wouldn’t have the tools and support they need to become successful. For us, those tools and supports come from our mentoring and after school programs. Using those, we’re able to provide children & youth with healthy relationships and enriching experiences they need to understand their full potential and go out there and grab it. Our volunteers dedicate their time and efforts to spending time with a single child or with a group of children or volunteering with us behind the scenes. 

GET INVOLVED

Are you interested in volunteering? Please go to www.bgcbigs.ca/volunteer for a full list of programs and applications.

Unable to volunteer your time on an ongoing basis? Call Volunteer Recruitment Facilitator Talia Shewchuk Magat at 780 822 2503 as she would be happy to meet with you over a cup of coffee to chat about other potential partnering opportunities.

Post submitted by TC Jordens-Harrah
TC Jordens-Harrah | YBB Ambassador: Community Inclusion
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High Level Marketing - Sarah Van Dusen

Thank you for supporting the YBB and my local business. Let me tell you a bit about me, and who I am. Receiving 2 diplomas for Business Marketing and Business Management. I have every course offered on Social Media from the University of Alberta and Adobe Photoshop as well. I have been in marketing for 18 years. I have owned my own company for 3 years, with a transition last year from Sarah Van Marketing to incorporating with my partner Chris Bolseng and creating High Level Marketing. I have been consulted by the Canadian Senate on “The right to be forgotten” a Google De-indexing law in 2018. Saving the best for last – I am a Google Partner and can explain to you how the algorithm’s work and how to best optimize your Social Media, Website and Online listings for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) P.S. Please talk to me about comic books/ your favourite superhero.

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Tips For Planning Your 2020 Social Media Strategy

Now is the time to set some goals, make some changes and create an all-new social media strategy. Social media is now and will always be the best platform to connect with your audience and make an image for yourself. Social media is expanding and getting bigger and bigger each day. Take advantage of this platform and make a name for yourself, entertain your audience and now in 2020, create an outstanding social media strategy.

Here are some tips on how to do it: 

1. Create Video Content 

In 2020, the power of video will not be dismissed. With video, you can perfectly showcase your brand in an entertaining and engaging way that attracts various demographics. An important thing when creating videos is making sure it’s viewable across various devices!

2. Post on platforms used by your audience 

Not surprising, I know, but this is vital to a successful social media strategy. This means you don’t have to be everywhere at once. Select one to three platforms that will be most interactive and make the most of your budget. This way you can engage with the right people in the right way for an effective social media strategy.

3. Use Google in your social media strategy 

Google is not just for searching, it’s a logical place to put focus on. There are new features like Google Follow, where Google Map users can follow a business and see that brand’s Google My Business Posts in a “For You” tab on the app. There is also Google Posts that allows you to create content directly on Google. Take advantage of this in the new year to expand your reach. 

Hopefully, these three tips can allow you to broaden your horizons and be even more successful this new year. Every once in a while, especially now in the new year, it’s a good idea to reevaluate your strategies and create new ones that emphasize the value you bring and appropriately adhere to your audience. 

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