Every year, as soon as November arrives, a wind of generosity blows over Montreal. Requests from community organizations increase, fundraising campaigns multiply and many people want to “do their part”. The holiday season becomes a key moment for mobilization, both for volunteers and for the organizations that welcome them.

At the Volunteer Bureau of Montreal (VBM), we see this surge of generosity in a very concrete way, beautiful and touching, but sometimes disorienting. How can we find our way through all this activity, without burning out or adding pressure to teams that are already highly solicited? And above all, how can we make sure these actions are meaningful, during the holidays and for the rest of the year?

A very real wave of interest… and needs that do not end in January
For community organizations, the spike of interest during the holidays is a wonderful opportunity to build relationships, make their services better known and respond to some of the more visible needs that peak in December. Many of them organize special activities: Christmas baskets, community meals, visits, festive events, outings and fundraising campaigns.

But precariousness, isolation, health problems, psychological distress, realities linked to immigration status or discrimination do not stop after the holidays. Needs are present all year long, sometimes in a quieter way, but just as urgent.

Acknowledging this reality does not diminish the value of what is done in December. It simply reminds us that behind each one-time action there is often a story that continues in January, in March, in July..

What if “holiday volunteering” became a starting point?

Without being moralistic, it can be helpful to ask ourselves a few simple questions when we feel the urge to get involved only in December:

• What touches me about this cause, and does this reality exist only during the holidays?

• Do I want my action to be a one-time gesture, or a first step toward something more regular, even very modest?

• How could my involvement support organizations at times of the year when volunteer opportunities are less “in style” but just as necessary?

The goal is not to blame seasonal impulses. On the contrary, they are precious and show a real desire for solidarity. At VBM, we see them as a doorway: a way to open a dialogue with organizations, discover their mission and then decide, at our own pace, if and how we want to continue the journey beyond the holidays.

How to choose where and how to get involved

When opportunities to get involved seem to explode, it can be hard to know where to start. A few guidelines can help you make an informed choice:

Ask yourself what you can realistically offer (time, energy, skills, travel) without putting yourself in a difficult situation.

Check whether the organization truly needs extra help at that specific moment or if getting involved a bit later could be even more useful.

Look for ways of getting involved that can continue after the holidays, even once a month, in order to offer some continuity to the people being supported.

Prioritize organizations that are rooted in the local community, that truly understand what is happening on the ground and long-term needs.

To explore volunteer opportunities that match your interests and availability, you can consult the volunteer opportunities in Montreal on the VBM website.

Putting access and inclusion at the heart of your choices

Choosing to get involved also means asking who is included and who is not. Access to volunteering and services can be limited by language, schedules, mobility, family situation, immigration status, mental health, income or discrimination.

A few questions to keep in mind, as a volunteer or as an organization:

• Who can realistically take part in this activity (location, time, transportation, language, building accessibility)?

  Are the guidelines and expectations clear, welcoming and understandable for people with different life paths?

  How can we welcome volunteers from diverse backgrounds (cultural, gender, age, ability) without marginalizing them or over-soliciting them?

  How can we make participation safe and respectful, both for the people receiving help and for those giving it?

At VBM, we work to integrate this focus on access and inclusion across all our services, both in how we guide volunteers and in how we support volunteer managers.

VBM’s role: turning the holiday momentum into lasting impact

The Volunteer Bureau of Montreal supports both:

• people who volunteer or would like to volunteer, who are looking for an opportunity that fits their values and their realities of life

• organizations that want to strengthen their volunteer programs and better support their teams, notably through training and consulting.

It allows kids and teens to gradually explore engagement, without pressure.

In practical terms, we offer:

• a volunteer opportunity platform with a variety of filters to help find the right match

• a registration and support service for volunteers to help them see things more clearly

• training and support in volunteer management for organizations, so that the experience is positive, structured and inclusive for everyone.

Our hope is that every volunteer will feel useful, respected, supported and aligned with their values, and that each organization can count on contributions that truly fit its reality.

What it can plant for the future

We do not involve children in volunteering to “turn them into” model citizens. We do it because it is a concrete way to tell them: you belong in this world, and what you do matters.

These actions create familiarity with engagement. Later on, they might remember the feeling more than the specific gesture: I was capable, I was useful, I was listened to.

Want to get involved… during the holidays and after?

We don’t volunteer with children to “turn them into perfect citizens.” We do it because it’s one way of showing them: you belong here, and what you do matters.

These early experiences make community engagement feel familiar. As they grow, they may not remember the exact activity, but they’ll remember the feeling: I was capable, I was helpful, I was heard.

Want to give it a try?

Around the holidays, many organizations really do need one-time help to make their special activities possible: preparing and distributing baskets, community meals, visits, festive events, fundraising campaigns. These short-term actions make a real difference. They help respond to intense seasonal pressure and support small teams that already carry a lot on their shoulders.

At the same time, every volunteer experience during the holidays can become a doorway into a more lasting relationship with these organizations that are essential to our social fabric. Taking the time to discover their mission, understand the needs they address year-round and see how we might come back to offer time, even occasionally, helps strengthen the web of solidarity that connects us to one another.

If you feel like taking concrete action to support holiday activities, or if you would like to explore how to continue the journey afterwards, our team is here to support you:

Visit our matching platform or contact us directly. The actions taken at Christmas are precious. And sometimes, the most beautiful way to extend that gift is to maintain the connection with the organizations you have met, at your own pace, throughout the year.