when women stand together and support one another through life’s challenges, it’s an incredible thing.
As a Relationship Volunteer, you join a community of women who care for one another while giving their time, compassion and experience to serve as nurturing friends who can walk the journey of motherhood alongside moms living in poverty.
Volunteers are paired with participant moms and build meaningful relationship with them while they navigate daily poverty-related stresses like food security, housing, and providing basic things for their children like transportation, access to health care, and extra-curricular activities.
Volunteers are trained and supported monthly by Mom2Mom staff and volunteer community experts.
“Volunteering with Mom2Mom has opened my eyes up to how strong of a woman, of a human being, you have to be in order to be a single mom.” - M2M Volunteer
WHO IS A RELATIONSHIP VOLUNTEER?
Relationship volunteers are paired with a participant mom to build a relationship through monthly meet ups and intermittent phone calls or texts. The moms we serve live with daily stress around issues like food security, housing, and other challenges caused by poverty.
As a relationship volunteer, you offer respectful, non-judgmental support to your participant mom. Both partners benefit from the relationship as the relationship volunteer witnesses the strength of women living in poverty and their ability to care for their children against very tough odds. The participant moms benefit from the consistent, supportive relationship and practical help related to parenting and navigating bureaucratic systems.
One of the most important things you will do as a relationship volunteer is offer consistency, reliability and stability, as these traits are key to raising healthy, well-adjusted children.
What does Mom2Mom commit to you as a Relationship Volunteer?
To value your time and energy with clear and timely communication.
To provide support for your relationship with your participant mom by listening, coaching, and resourcing goods and services.
To provide regular training to support your interaction with your participant mom. Volunteer support meetings are held bi-monthly at local coffee shops or via ZOOM calls.
To provide fun opportunities for you and your participant mom through our Circle of Moms program.
What does Mom2Mom expect from you, as a Relationship Volunteer?
A one-year minimum commitment to relationship with your participant mom.
Approximately four hours per month of your time, including one face-to-face meeting with your participant mom and a few texts or a phone call. Note: we do not expect volunteers and participant moms to meet in person during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A warm, open attitude, a willingness to listen, and responses that emphasize participant mom’s strengths and considers the impact of trauma on behaviour and the complexity of poverty.
Ability to set and exercise personal boundaries.
Completion of a brief volunteer check-in on a quarterly basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
I don’t have any training, is that O.K.? You will be trained and supported by experienced Mom2Mom program coordinators. All we ask for is your commitment to a compassionate and encouraging relationship with your participant mom. No special education is required!
I go away on vacations, is that a problem? Of course not! We will usually pair you with another volunteer. Let your participant mom and your partner relationship volunteer know that you are going away so that she won’t think you aren’t returning her calls/texts for no reason.
Do I need to spend my own money? No, there is no cost to get involved and become a Mom2Mom volunteer. Mom2Mom is a charitable society and we fundraise to support volunteer activities, including the time you spend with a participant mom. We also encourage participant moms and volunteers to spend time together participating in low-cost/no-cost activities such as going for a walk or meeting at a park.
Do I need to live in Vancouver to volunteer? Yes, because we offer community events and expect volunteers and participant moms to spend time together in-person. Volunteers can live outside of Vancouver proper as long as they are able to attend events/meet with participant moms in Vancouver.
What is the process to becoming a volunteer? Mom2Mom accepts volunteers year-round.
STEP 1: is to fill our our volunteer interest form at the top of the page.
STEP 2: is to take part in a brief phone interview with a program coordinator.
STEP 3: attend a training session with one of our program coordinators, who will orient you to the program and answer your questions.
STEP 4: is to complete a criminal record check.
STEP 5: is to attend an initial coffee meeting with your participant mom and a Mom2Mom program coordinator.
STEP 6: is to slowly build trust and relationship with your participant mom, while allowing Mom2Mom to support you both!
“I feel privileged to volunteer with such a wonderful organization that looks out for women in poverty. [My participant mom] and I have built up a friendship over the years. I know she is dealing with family problems and needs the encouragement that she really is a great mom. I consider it an honour to be in her life and her children’s life.”
If you have more questions about volunteering for Mom2Mom or would like to speak to a current volunteer about their experiences, please get in touch with us directly. We would love to get to know you and help you discover if this opportunity is a good fit for you.