A community volunteer fair, hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Regina, Saskatchewan, brought together local non-profit organizations with community volunteers. Liu LaFontaine, local communication director for the Church, and Susan Burgess, the Regina JustServe specialist, conceived the idea as a chance for people of all faiths, cultures, ethnicities and economic backgrounds to gather in support of Regina’s charitable organizations.
Regina Mayor Sandra Masters greeted those in attendance and set the tone for the day. She said, “To see multiple faiths come together like this — folks born in different places, different age groups, differing ability levels — it’s inspiring. JustServe is a community unifier in ways that other things simply can’t be.”
The event offered something for everyone, and participation was key. Member of the Legislative Assembly Jared Clarke, MLA Noor Burki, other local dignitaries and media came to support the event.
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| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Organizing the Event
The organizers wanted their community to know about the JustServe program. JustServe.org is a free website and app that links community volunteer needs with volunteers. The organizers wanted to create a space where local non-profit, community and government organizations could meet volunteers and connect through JustServe.
JustServe offers volunteers a one-stop shopping experience. The website presents local volunteer options and caters to all age groups. Volunteers can find service opportunities based on their interests and even send invitations to friends to volunteer with them.
While preparing for the event, LaFontaine said, “We advertised our community volunteer fair with strategically placed posters, yard signs, Facebook and Instagram posts, online community boards and community cable stations, making certain that all charitable organizations were invited to set up tables at no cost to them. We made sure that everyone in our community knew about the fair.”
Connecting the Community
Preparation paid off on the day of the event in October 2023, when more than 250 people of all ages showed up. Youth made up a large percentage of the attendees.
M.J. Deans-Beynham, director of development at North Central Family Centre (NCFC), expressed appreciation for the impact of the event. She said, “We were welcomed by organizers from the Church upon arrival, and the fair proved to be a great opportunity to connect with community members. Our NCFC table saw a constant flow of interested individuals, eager to learn more about our organization.”
Potential volunteers had the choice of exploring service opportunities by speaking with representatives of local charities or engaging in hands-on service projects. The projects included assembling hygiene kits, quilting, using loom kits to knit hats for unhoused people, writing greeting cards for care centre residents, or donating winter coats, mitts and toques.
Ten charitable organizations arrived at the volunteer fair hoping to find much-needed help, and all left with a list of eager potential volunteers.
Post-event, Deans-Beynham noted that a handful of new volunteers had joined NCFC, contributing to activities like playing with children after school, baking cookies and crafting. She added, “Once people come to NCFC, volunteer, meet the amazing staff and wonderful kiddos and community we serve, they’re hooked and become friends of NCFC for life. We’re excited about future volunteer fairs and aim to stay connected and actively participate in the positive work these events promote.”
LaFontaine shared, “There is a great spirit and feeling of unity generated when folks work shoulder to shoulder to serve their community. The excitement [at the volunteer fair] was palpable!”
JustServe
JustServe is a community catalyst to provide a convenient way for volunteers to determine who, what, when, where and why they want to serve.
Individual efforts do not need to be grand — a little bit of change here, a few hours there — even small efforts quickly add up to make a real difference. Elder D. Todd Christofferson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said, “Unity does not require sameness. Unity requires harmony” (“One in Christ,” April 2023 general conference).
That’s what JustServe is all about. Today, Regina’s citizens are serving their community as never before.
Contributed by Carol Laycock