Volunteering Weaves Us Together

This year marks the 49th anniversary of National Volunteer Week and the 22nd anniversary of Strong Start. As we celebrate this year’s theme, Volunteering Weaves us Together, we reflect on the incredible gift of time our volunteers have provided. As each individual thread makes weaving stronger, every volunteer’s experience, perspective, and abilities add to our collective resilience. Woven together across Ontario, volunteering reinforces our ability to grow, thrive and create impact within our community. 

Each year, Strong Start relies on the gifts of time by thousands of caring individuals who go above and beyond to help children learn to read. Whether they are working one-on-one with children in local schools, helping small groups of children in community centres, or assembling program materials at the National Program Deployment Centre, we could not do what we do without their support. We truly are better together!  

Over the last 22 years, nearly 40,000 volunteers have given over 594,000 hours of volunteer time to help 51,774 children learn to read. It is a true partnership.  

We invite you to join us in celebrating and applauding amazing Strong Start volunteers, by tweeting @Strong_Start using the hashtag #NVW2023 and #WeavingUsTogether, liking us on Facebook and connecting with us on Instagram. We also invite you to read stories from other volunteers, families, and our program partners here.  

Do you have an experience you would like to share? Send us an e-mail at info@strongstart.ca. We would love to hear from you.  

With a heartfelt and sincere thank you,  

The Strong Start Team