
Monaghan volunteer helps Mayo organisation
“The rise in online volunteering has made it possible for volunteers to take on roles with organisations all over Ireland. One example we really liked was how Monaghan woman Dianne shared her knowledge of local history with a group in Mayo.
The Irish Wheelchair Association in Mayo posted a volunteer role on our national volunteering database, I-Vol. It was for volunteers to join an online meeting of their group as a guest speaker or tutor. They were open to all kinds of ideas, such as storytelling, crafts, gardening – anything that might interest the group. Dianne saw this role online and got in touch with Monaghan Volunteer Centre. We put her in contact with the IWA group in Mayo. Dianne joined a meeting as a guest speaker and shared her knowledge of the history of Clones. She showed some Clones lace pieces and explained the story of how Clones lace began as a famine relief project in 1847. She went on to give the group a virtual guided tour of Clones and tell them about its history.
For more information on Clones Lace and Clones history see CLONES

Volunteering from home
Kristina Kolosova has been registered with the Volunteer Centre since 2019. During the Covid-19 lockdown Kristina decided to volunteer from home by making gifts for the Team Hope Christmas Shoe Box appeal. We loved seeing some of Kristina’s creations and we know the children who receive them at the end of 2020 will appreciate her hard work.
In Kristina’s own words;
‘I think making toys with your own hands for children far, far away is amazing, I find it therapeutic for myself, in these uncertain times doing things like this can help people feel they are not alone.
I feel very happy to create a little piece of joy for kids. I am doing a good deed and my hands and my mind are occupied while in lockdown. When you see those cute toys it just makes you smile, it benefits not just children but yourself and your family as you can involve everyone. There is no need to be experienced in knitting or crocheting. There are plenty free tutorials online and many of them are suitable for beginners.’