International Volunteer Year 2026

International Volunteer Year 2026 is the United Nations’ call to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary impact of volunteers around the world.

At Living Green Barrie, we are deeply grateful for the incredible community of volunteers who give their time, talent, skills, and care to support our work. From long-term leaders and Board members to first-time and short-term volunteers, each contribution helps power meaningful climate action right here in Barrie.

August Volunteer Spotlight: Sharon

Our August Action for Climate is Power Down. While we often think of powering down as turning off lights, unplugging devices, or making our homes more energy efficient, there’s another powerful way to reduce our environmental impact: repairing what we already own instead of replacing it. Choosing to repair an item keeps valuable materials in use, avoids the energy and emissions involved in manufacturing something new, and helps reduce waste.

That’s where Sharon comes in.

As one of our dedicated Repair Café Fixers, Sharon generously shares her time and expertise to help community members give everyday household items a second chance. Sharon approaches every conversation with patience, kindness, and a genuine desire to help others learn.

One of the things that makes Repair Cafés so special is that they aren’t just about fixing broken things—they’re about sharing knowledge. Sharon doesn’t simply repair an item and send someone on their way. She takes the time to explain what she’s doing, answer questions, and encourage people to build the confidence to tackle small repairs themselves in the future. That spirit of learning and empowerment is at the heart of every Repair Café.

By extending the life of everyday items, Sharon is helping our community reduce waste, conserve the energy and resources required to manufacture new products, and rethink our throwaway culture. Every successful repair is a reminder that sometimes the greenest choice isn’t buying something new—it’s making what we already have last a little longer.

Volunteers like Sharon demonstrate that climate action doesn’t always require big investments or sweeping changes. Sometimes it’s as simple as picking up a screwdriver, sharing a skill, and helping someone see the value in repairing instead of replacing.

Sharon, thank you for your generosity, your expertise, and the care you bring to every Repair Café. Your willingness to share your skills is helping our community power down in more ways than one, and we’re grateful to have you as part of the Living Green Barrie volunteer team.