If you’ve ever wondered how to make a difference in our local community, this might be the place to start. Becoming a volunteer with Victim Services isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about being willing to show up, listen, and offer support to those navigating a crisis. Tragedy doesn’t follow a schedule. It can […]
If you’ve ever wondered how to make a difference in our local community, this might be the place to start. Becoming a volunteer with Victim Services isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about being willing to show up, listen, and offer support to those navigating a crisis.
Tragedy doesn’t follow a schedule. It can arrive in the form of loss, violence, or sudden crisis, leaving people uncertain of what to do next. Victim Services responds in those moments, offering support to victims, day or night.
“People often think we only respond to the ‘big’ cases they see on TV,” says Joanne, Volunteer and Fundraising Coordinator with Victim Services of Sarnia-Lambton. “But our role is to support anyone impacted by crime or tragic circumstance, no matter the size of the trauma, because everyone’s experience is valid, and everyone deserves access to support.”
Victim Services relies on a team of 18 volunteers to cover the entire Sarnia-Lambton region, from Grand Bend to Wallaceburg and into the three local First Nation communities. The volunteers dedicating their time are teachers, retirees, students, and aspiring first responders—everyday people who commit to supporting community members during times of crisis.
Their work takes them to hospital rooms, living rooms, or roadsides. Volunteers are always paired together, offering resources and reassurance to victims while first responders tend to the technical side of a crisis.
“These are people who choose to show up when someone is having the worst day of their life,” Joanne explains. “They don’t walk away with recognition. They walk away knowing they made sure someone didn’t feel alone.”
Many volunteers are students preparing for careers in policing, fire, or EMS, seeking first-hand experience in crisis situations. Others just want to give back to the community, while some have lived experience and want to be the person they once needed.
Joanne began as a volunteer, bringing 20 years of community involvement before stepping into her current role and knowing firsthand the impact the work can have, not only on those supported but on the volunteers themselves. She has watched former volunteers carry those lessons into their careers.
“You can tell which [first responders] were volunteers,” she says. “They respond differently because they’ve seen what it feels like from the victim’s side.”
That perspective is carefully built into the training process. Becoming a volunteer means more than signing up; it means being prepared to meet people at their most vulnerable. After interviews and screening, new recruits complete two days of in-person training, 40 hours of online modules, and a one-year probationary period.
With safety as the priority, volunteers are never sent out alone. New volunteers are paired with seasoned ones, learning how to navigate difficult conversations, manage their own emotions, and connect people with local resources. Every call ends with a debrief, making sure that no one carries the weight of the work by themselves.
“It’s heavy work,” Joanne admits. “But we build a team culture where volunteers support one another, celebrate wins, and look after each other’s mental health. That’s what makes it sustainable.”
Perhaps the most powerful part of volunteering with Victim Services is what is left unsaid. Survivors rarely remember the names or faces of the people who sat with them in those moments of tragedy, and that’s the point.
Joanne recalled a moment from years ago, when a woman approached her to share her experience. She spoke about the strength Victim Services volunteers gave her in the middle of tragedy after a sudden loss, without knowing that Joanne herself had been one of the volunteers supporting her in that moment.
“That’s the gift,” Joanne says. “They don’t need to know who we are. What matters is they remember someone was there… One day, someone will say they got through the hardest moment of their life because a volunteer stood beside them. You could be that person.”
Volunteers commit to one year with the program and dedicate at least 24 hours a month to being on call, adapted to each volunteer’s personal life and availability. As Joanne says, being a volunteer is not about being perfect, it’s about being present.
Community members who are 18 or older, hold a valid driver’s license and insurance, and can complete a vulnerable sector check are encouraged to apply. Applications are available at the Victim Services of Sarnia-Lambton website.
