Meet some of the New Brunswickers looking for a match today
- Karen is friendly and sociable. She is very independent and would like to be matched with someone to help her do her errands, to organize papers and help her sort through her mail. She would like to have someone who could come on a weekly basis.
- Jake is very independent and very active. He would like help with his shopping. However, he is happy to take the city bus with his Vision Mate or to meet at the store to do the shopping together. He is an avid walker and would enjoy having a sighted guide to go walking with. He also occasionally has some paperwork that he needs help with.
- Mary lives in a nursing home. She would like a visitor to come by for conversation and company. She is very lonely and is hesitant to get involved in the group events because of her sight loss. She loves to sit and chat in her room.
- Phillipe is starting his GED in the evenings. He is working on building his confidence for leaving the house. He is also interested in social visits.
- Samantha would like someone to go bowling with. She would like you to pick her up at her place, drive her bowling and help her with keeping score.
Wherever you are, you can be a Vision Mate
We have current requests for volunteers in these communities:
- Bathurst
- Belldune
- Campbellton
- Dieppe
- Douglas
- Edmundston
- Fredericton
- Grand Barachois
- Grand Bay-Westfield
- Hampton
- Miramichi
- Moncton
- Nackawic
- Oromocto
- Penobsquis
- Riverview
- Sackville
- Saint John
- St. Stephen
- Sussex
Your community not on the list? Contact us and we will keep your name on-hand if we get a new Vision Mate request nearby!
Living without sight can be challenging and sometimes it’s easier to have a friend help with daily sighted tasks. Our Vision Mate program matches volunteers with people with vision loss to help one-on-one for a couple of hours a week. You’ll help with activities like reading, organizing, running errands or going for walks. Activities are mutually agreed upon, based on your match's needs. Volunteers do not clean, cook, provide personal care or counselling.
To see a match in action, watch this video.
Make a real difference in someone’s life
New Brunswickers with vision loss live independent lives all around us. However, sometimes it’s easier to have someone help with certain sighted tasks. Our Vision Mate program connects them with people like you.
What are Vision Mates?
Vision mates are trained, sighted volunteers who are matched one-on-one with a person with vision loss.
What do Vision Mates do?
Activities that you and your match do together are based on the needs of the person with vision loss, and your interests. This can include:
- reading books or newspapers,
- organizing around the home,
- going for walks around the community, or at the gym
- going for coffee
- assisting with errands.
You act like the person's eyes; observing and describing what is required to empower the person to accomplish the tasks at hand.
Still not sure?
To hear from a Vision Mate match, check out this this You Tube story on AMI!
How much commitment is involved?
You meet for a couple of hours a week at a time that works for both you and your match in their home or another suitable place.
Your relationship will often transition from "helper-helpee" to "friends". That’s why age, gender, interests, and travel distance play a role in making the match. We aim to match people for a minimum of six months, though there is no maximum time for a match to continue – ideally it will continue for years to come.
How will I know what to do?
Don’t worry, you’ll get an in-person training session with CNIB
If you are interested in this position, you can apply to join our team today by using our online application form.