Brock faculty and staff are invited to give back to the Niagara community by participating in National Volunteer Week, which takes place from Sunday, April 16 to Saturday, April 22.

Through Brock Cares Days of Service, an initiative organized by Health Management and Wellness and Student Life and Success, employees can participate in a variety of half-day volunteer opportunities without using vacation time.

The volunteer opportunities will take place throughout the week, with registration opening on Thursday, April 6 and closing on Wednesday, April 12.

“We wish to inspire an internal culture of giving back to our community and leverage the mental and physical benefits associated with volunteering,” says Martina Ciglenecki, Manager, Health Management and Wellness.

Ciglenecki adds that volunteering can help to improve mental health and provide volunteers with a sense of purpose. For volunteers from Brock, it is also an opportunity to build community connections and develop an understanding of the work done by non-profit organizations across Niagara.

“Our goal in organizing these National Volunteer Week activities is to not only provide our Brock colleagues with a chance to give back, but also to recognize the outstanding work our community partners do every day,” says Kristen Smith, Manager, Off-Campus and Community Experience in Student Life and Success.

Faculty and staff can register to participate in the following volunteer opportunities through ExperienceBU:

• Refurbishing computers with Empowerment Squared on Tuesday, April 18 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Empowerment Squared (26 Arrowsmith Rd., Hamilton)
• March of Dimes wheelchair washing on Wednesday, April 19 from noon to 1 p.m. at March of Dimes (1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines)
• March of Dimes event set up on Thursday, April 20 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Club Roma (125 Vansickle Rd., St. Catharines)