Volunteer Richmond Information Services
Volunteer Richmond Information Services (VRIS) is a non-profit agency based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, where it serves a dual role as a volunteer centre and a source for community information. History The origins of VRIS date back to 1972, when a small group of individuals connected with the Richmond Savings Credit Union (which later merged with Pacific Coast Savings Credit Union to become Coast Capital Savings) started a community information service in the cloakroom of the Credit Union's main branch. In 1986, this service, now operating out of a permanent location in Richmond Centre mall, merged with the Richmond Volunteer Centre and became the Richmond Information and Volunteer Centre. In order to accommodate a growing number of programs and clients, the agency moved to its present location at the Richmond Caring Place in 1994. In the same year, the agency changed its name to Richmond Connections. Finally, in 2001, to coincide with the International Year of the Volunteer and to better reflect its role in promoting volunteerism, Richmond Connections adopted its current name, Volunteer Richmond Information Services. Programs Aside from the volunteer centre and information and referral service, VRIS runs several other community programs, including the Richmond Christmas Fund,