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Metro expo helps volunteers Oct. 24-25 conference encourages businesses to give employees an hour off to attend event People want to volunteer but many don't know how to start. That's an observation from Tony Hebert, one of the organizers for next month's inaugural Hands Up! Volunteer Expo and Conference, happening Oct. 24 and 25 at the Moncton Coliseum. "We have youth that really want to help in the community but they don't know where," said Hebert. "We have active seniors who want to help out (but) they don't know where. And in between, we have people who have a few hours here and there who would like to help out and so on." After doing some research, organizers of the Volunteer Expo found that many locals had good intentions of giving their time and effort, but lacked confidence and/or contacts to properly get involved. "People came back saying "I'd like to volunteer, but I don't know how, I don't have any skills in volunteering,' or 'I don't know where to volunteer,'" said Hebert. "We needed to provide an opportunity for our citizens to browse for volunteer opportunities," he explained, which at its heart is what Hands Up! will do. Close to 100 displays from local non-profit organizations will exhibit volunteer opportunities that range from groups centered around recreation, hospitals and health care, the police, the arts and culture scene as well as other positions -- many of which are ideal for brand new residents who want to meet new people and get involved in their community. "We have a mall when we want to buy a new pair of shoes or a new coat. We've never had that opportunity with volunteer organizations, to have potential volunteers come in and ask questions," said Hebert, who said that just like a mall, there's no pressure to buy or commit to anything at the Volunteer Expo. "It takes all the stress off," he said. A special component of the Expo isn't just putting these non-profit organizations front and centre on the Coliseum floor but also to give some educational aspect about volunteering as well. Seminars will be offered during the event, teaching ways to coordinate volunteer efforts whether it's through volunteer recruitment, showing leadership or how to manage the responsibilities of being a sitting member for a non-profit organization board. Hebert is putting a challenge out to area businesses, asking them to allow their employees to have an hour off on Oct. 24 so they can so they can attend the Expo. Hebert said it's a win-win situation for both the employer and employee. "The corporations really have a great opportunity to show their staff that they care about the community," he said. "The company wins because they have a staff member who will learn incredible skills of leadership, skills of teamwork, and also some new organizational skills that they'll bring back to the company at no charge." "The non-profits are giving incredible staff training." The conference is free for anybody to attend. To see that as many people as possible have the opportunity to attend the conference, Codiac Transit will also be offering free transportation from anywhere on their routes to the Coliseum on the conference days. Those taking Codiac Transit to the Expo just need to tell the bus driver they're going to Hands Up! and the bus will go to Highfield Square where it will connect to a shuttle leading to the Coliseum. Organizing the Hands Up! event is the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick, Share Knowledge, and the Volunteer Centre of Southeastern New Brunswick. Hebert, who's also the president of Share Knowledge, said he hoped people would share the word on this unique event.
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