Edmonton non-profits search for volunteers as holiday season approaches

'Win some, lose some' may be the motto for Edmonton non-profit organizations as the COVID-19 pandemic throws a new wrench into the charitable season.

Institutions like Meals on Wheels have consistent, reliable volunteers who prepare and deliver food but last week, the organization put out a call for more drivers. 

Tim Hanson, a fund development manager with Meals on Wheels, said it's not unusual to put the call out. 

"It happens all the time," Hanson told CBC News. "We're always looking for more people as we keep up with the fluctuation in volunteers." 

But the call for drivers last week came shortly after the organization told their volunteers that everyone must have a double COVID-19 vaccination to continue making and delivering meals. 

Hanson noted that volunteers have until November 15th to get a double dose. 

Penny Coates usually works two shifts a week delivering meals to about 10 people each day this week, she took an extra shift to compensate for a shortage. 

"I know of one driver and possibly two that won't get vaccinated," she told CBC News Thursday. "I would have thought that the volunteers would understand and just be vaccinated, turns out they're not — when they said 'you have to be,' they lost people." 

The number of clients using the Meals on Wheels nearly doubled from 2019, to about 4,400 in 2020, Hanson said.

Other groups face challenges getting volunteers to return in the of a pandemic.

Some venues, like theatres and concert halls, were closed for a year or more. 

Kimberlee Stadelmann, associate executive director at the Citadel Theatre, said about half of their former volunteers are coming back, leaving them with a shortage. 

Typically, the theatre has 100 volunteers who act as ushers, welcoming and seating patrons, taking tickets and selling food and drinks at the concession stands. 

"Some are just not comfortable yet being in crowds and helping crowds of people," Stadelmann said. "The majority of our volunteers are retirees so they're in a bit of a high-risk category."