Volunteers at Kogawa House

Volunteers have been an invaluable part of Historic Joy Kogawa House since its inception. In our first years, volunteers helped paint and clean the house and volunteered countless hours at our events. Today, volunteers continue to do essential work for all of our programs. We couldn’t run Historic Joy Kogawa House without them.

As a volunteer, you can become part of the team that keeps the house humming. Whether you end up helping at events or stuffing envelopes, your contribution to Historic Joy Kogawa House will help you strengthen your connection to the Vancouver writing community, explore your talents, gain work experience, and make friends with similar interests.

Please read about our volunteer opportunities below, and then submit an application and attend our volunteer orientations. We’ll email with information regarding the next orientation! 

Volunteer Orientations

Orientation sessions take place quarterly at Historic Joy Kogawa House. Contact Ann-Marie Metten at ametten@kogawahouse.com to RSVP or to schedule an alternate orientation time.

NOTE: The next orientation will occur next week on Monday, September 16, at 6pm.

 

Volunteer Opportunities

Administrative support: This volunteer job can run the gamut from organizing our literary programs to providing event support. These are great opportunities for people who want to learn more about the nuts and bolts of working at a nonprofit organization. Administrative volunteers must have some availability Monday through Friday between the hours of 10am and 6pm.

Facilities: Are you good with a paintbrush? Do you like to garden? Do you have experience with museum displays or heritage restoration? Help us keep the Historic Joy Kogawa House beautiful by volunteering for the facilities department.

Events: We host literary events throughout the year, and most of these special events need volunteer support during setup, at the door, with refreshments, and afterward during cleanup. If you have a Serving It Right beverage service certificate or experience with food service, please let us know. If you have a knack for digital photography or videography, let us know that, too.

Book sales: We need staff for book sales tables at literary events such as LiterASIAN later this month, at Word Vancouver, at the BC Book Prizes in the spring, as well as at our own literary events. If you have experience selling books as well as with cash and credit card sales, please let us know. We’d really appreciate your help!

To tell us a little more about yourself, please respond to the questions below. 

Volunteer Form

  • First name:
  • Last name:
  • Email:
  • Phone:
  • Why do you want to volunteer at Historic Joy Kogawa House?
  • What types of volunteering interest you?

(Please check all that apply)

  1. Administrative
  2. Event Assistance
  3. Facilities & House Management
  4. Archiving
  5. Fundraising/Grants
  6. Book sales

Please send your answers in an email message to ametten@kogawahouse.com

Thanks for your interest in volunteering! Once you’ve applied, remember to drop in for a volunteer orientation to become an active volunteer