September 2024
Volunteering with For Our Kids Ottawa/Gatineau: Small actions count!
As a parent juggling work and the whirlwind of parenting, I know firsthand how elusive free time can be. The thought of adding volunteering commitments to our already overflowing schedules can seem daunting. Yet, amidst the chaos of school drop-offs, meal planning, taking kids to activities and playdates, and bedtime routines, there lies a hidden truth: volunteering is not only possible but also incredibly rewarding. It’s a chance to make a positive impact, connect with our community, and instill valuable lessons in our children.
The urgency of the climate crisis hit home for me more than ever last summer. My four-year old kiddo’s asthma was not easily manageable, and we failed to find relief from the wildfire smoke engulfing Ottawa. I worried about her health. I worried about the health of other vulnerable people. I worried about what future summers would look like for all our kids, and their kids. I worried about those who were forced to evacuate their homes and lost everything to wildfires. I felt hopeless.
I realized I couldn’t merely worry—I needed to act.
I came out to my first For Our Kids Ottawa/Gatineau meeting, a climate anxiety discussion, where I found other parents with similar concerns and learned some tools for coping with the feelings of hopelessness. These volunteers provided a safe space where my fears were met with empathy, understanding and no judgement about where I was on my personal climate action learning journey.
For Our Kids understands the juggling act of parenthood. They recognize that parents can’t always attend rallies or lead major campaigns. Instead, they celebrate small victories: biking to school, planting native gardens, sending letters to local politicians and community leaders to change policy, and reducing plastic waste in lunches to name a few. These actions align with your busy life—they’re achievable, yet impactful.
Since my first meeting with For Our Kids, I volunteered to set up a Climate Action Book Club, so I could bring others along with me on my climate action learning journey. Our book club meets every two months and aims to provide a space for thoughtful conversations, shared learning, and building connections with like-minded adults concerned about the future for our children. Together we’ve read Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer, and most-recently Parenting on Earth by Elizabeth Cripps. I also recently volunteered at an Earth Day booth, talking to people and helping children plant seeds and colour in posters to celebrate the Earth.
Although I work full time, I can still squeeze in time here and there to volunteer. Volunteering is fulfilling – whether it’s the social connections or being a positive example to our kids and to others in the community. It feels good to be part of a team that is working towards change and a better world for future generations. Volunteering takes the hopelessness and fear I felt about climate change and turns it into meaningful action. I may only be doing a small bit, but our combined efforts are huge.
Whether you attend a Kidical Mass Bike Ride, listen in on a workshop, share something you’ve learned with others on the Facebook group, manage a booth at an event, organize a meeting, or simply follow updates from the newsletter, you contribute to a collective effort. And in this shared commitment, we can find hope, purpose, and a path forward. Small actions count!
Written by Sara Parkes
