Oak Bay Volunteer ServicesB次元官网网址� new executive director has a vision of a swatch of volunteers happily sashaying along the Oak Bay Tea Party parade route. ItB次元官网网址檚 all part of Renee Lorm茅-GulbrandsenB次元官网网址檚 plan to grow the organization from its solid 40-year foundation.

About 200 volunteers offer about 500 residents support services such as driving, visiting, walking or wheelchair pushes, reading and writing, phone call greetings, preparation of simple income tax returns, minor repairs and gardening.

B次元官网网址淭his organization is just so full of passion, compassion for the people that we work with in the community. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a dream. Oak Bay is a wonderful community,B次元官网网址� says Lorm茅-Gulbrandsen, who took the helm last summer. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 still such a beautiful small-town feeling where neighbours want to help neighbours.B次元官网网址�

Originally from New York, she came to OBVS with an education from UVic and Ryerson. SheB次元官网网址檚 worked for a small organization and the large the large BC Sustainable Energy Association as well as the International Institute for Child Rights and Development where she still holds a seat on the board.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e the ones who really got me invested in the non-profit sector,B次元官网网址� says Lorm茅-Gulbrandsen, adding B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a serial volunteer too.B次元官网网址�

SheB次元官网网址檚 offered hours for groups such as Victoria WomenB次元官网网址檚 Transition House and Victoria General Hospital along with the natural volunteering that comes as a mother of two.

She has a plan to grow the Oak Bay organization from a primarily retiree-based volunteer group with older clientele.

B次元官网网址淭he vision I have is that we can make a much bigger impact,B次元官网网址� Lorm茅-Gulbrandsen says. B次元官网网址淲e havenB次元官网网址檛 touched the lives of all the seniors who could really use our help. I imagine thereB次元官网网址檚 still some who live in isolation independently and maybe donB次元官网网址檛 know what weB次元官网网址檙e offering. I really want to get out there into the community more and really tell people about the great work of the volunteers, the great services we offer and get more clients in to be supported. WeB次元官网网址檙e here for them and we want everybody to be here for them.B次元官网网址�

She has a new volunteer strategy focused on engaging young people, which started with meeting with Monterey Middle School earlier this month.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e talked to other groups interested in getting youth involved, so part of my work will be developing programs that support young people in volunteering. Their priorities and time availability is different from my other volunteers,B次元官网网址� Lorm茅-Gulbrandsen syas.

While she works on rebranding the organization with a new look and feel that could be seen as early as spring, sheB次元官网网址檚 also developing outreach strategies to augment the first B次元官网网址� developing the inaugural volunteer fair with Monterey Recreation Centre and the Community Association of Oak Bay last winter.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about being more connected in the community,B次元官网网址� she says.

Part of connecting, and adding volunteers, is building on services beyond the shopping and drives that make OBVS so successful already.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 sort of our bread and butter services, but because our organization actually can support all ages I really want to do an environmental scan of the area,B次元官网网址� Lorm茅-Gulbrandsen says. B次元官网网址淲e serve people in need and it doesnB次元官网网址檛 have to be a certain age, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 have to be a certain socioeconomic status B次元官网网址� if someoneB次元官网网址檚 in need and they can use our services, weB次元官网网址檙e here to help.B次元官网网址�

Oak Bay Volunteer Services Society is located in the lower level of municipal hall, at 101-2167 Oak Bay Ave. and open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Call 250-595-1034 for more information on services or to volunteer.

editor@oakbaynews.com