Celebrating Our Volunteers
“You help people we support become one with their community. For that, we can not thank you enough.”
At Ontario ARC we have dedicated volunteers who take the time from their life to make connections with the people we support. When members of the community engage and connect with a person with a disability, acceptance grows.
We pride ourselves on matching volunteers and interns with opportunities that align with their interests. As an agency, we want to ensure that we are utilizing all the skills and experience that volunteers bring to the people we support. Currently, Ontario ARC has 74 active volunteers and 9 interns placed during the spring 2019 semester.
We have placed interns from D’Youville College, Keuka College, Hobart William and Smith Colleges, and Finger Lakes Community College, in various programs based on what their interests are. We have many opportunities for Human Services students as well as business, marketing social work, nursing, horticulture, music, art, and more!
When students are looking for a placement, sometimes they are unsure of what they would like to do. Even after research about the programs, it can be overwhelming making the decision. This is when we try to mentor students.
“I have been very lucky to work with all the great students that come through our agency. I remember looking for my internship during my first semester of college; I didn’t have the best experience. Now, as someone placing students, I don’t want any of our interns to have that experience,” says Sierra Aulenbacher, Volunteer Coordinator. “I make it my mission that everyone is placed in a program that they can learn from and enjoy.”
“It’s no wonder that there is an influx of volunteers/interns at Ontario ARC, the word must have got out about how wonderful you are!” wrote Sarah Weed from Finger Lakes Community College who is completing her internship at the College Experience program at Finger Lakes Community College.
Ontario ARC draws many members of the community to volunteer within the large menu of services we provide. Currently, our largest program is Pet Connections with 56 active volunteers. Pet Connections expanded in 2017 to include even more community volunteer opportunities by offering Animal Assisted Intervention volunteer certification and membership. With this expansion, our volunteer program grew quickly.
Currently, we have volunteers at our residential homes, our Victor Community Learning Center, Victor After School Program, Canandaigua and Geneva Sit-A-Spell and the Art Program with Creative Expressions. We continue to look for volunteers to help in various programs, especially in our residential program. The residents in the programs enjoy having members of the community joining in for the game night, crafting, cooking, and other activities!
Thank you to all the volunteers who make a difference in the lives of the people we support. We can’t thank you enough!
If you are interested in volunteering with Ontario ARC, please contact Sierra Aulenbacher at 585-919-2106 or at saulenbacher@ontarioarc.org. We look forward to having you here!
Here are a few photos from our recent Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast which we celebrated in April! This was a wonderful chance to honor our volunteers and say “thank you” for the incredible work they do every day.
