Volunteer

  • What We Are Looking For

    We're in search of enthusiastic individuals who are eager to create a meaningful difference.

    Open to volunteers aged 16 and above. Younger participants are welcomed while accompanied by a guardian.

    All it takes is a minimum commitment of one shift per week Monday-Friday!

    As part of our commitment to creating a safe environment, all volunteers must adhere to our vaccine policy and will require a vulnerable sector check.

  • What to Expect as a Volunteer

    Get ready to be guided and empowered through our comprehensive orientation and training sessions.

    Step into the spotlight with client-facing interactions or dive into the dynamic warehouse operations – the choice is yours!

    Experience the warmth of a welcoming, professional, and compassionate environment that fuels your passion for giving back. Join hands with us to make a real difference – every effort goes towards ensuring everyone is fed in our community.

  • How to Get Started

    Head over to www.betterimpact.com to create your personalized username and password.

    Fill out a quick application to let us know how you want to make a difference in our community.

    Now you're on the path to creating positive change! Sit tight, and our dedicated staff will reach out to you with all the information you need to start your volunteering journey.

Volunteer Roles

  • This position is responsible for completing client appointment bookings and registration of new clients. Volunteers help to provide clients with employment when they see a need by referring them to Community Employment Services.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Read through the information and instructions at the desk to ensure you are informed of any updates.

    • Engage in positive, respectful communication (either written or verbal) with all clients, volunteers, and staff. Use of Google Translate is encouraged when there is a language barrier between volunteers-clients.

    • Using the our database, register new clients or verify existing client information. Always check clients by name or phone number to ensure they are not already in the system before adding them.

    • Ensure all household members are entered into the client’s file, even if they are not family members.

    • Verify all client information and make any necessary changes, ensuring that all questions are answered.

    • Remind the client of the date/time of their appointment.

    • Remind the client to bring photo ID for each household member as well as reusable bags

    • Check the voicemail and return calls that day.

    Attributes and Qualifications:

    • Excellent customer service skills

    • Excellent written and communication skills

    • Good time management and problem solving skills

    • Experience with computer database software is an asset

    • Able to keep up with a high volume of calls at times

    • Tactful and diplomatic while being sensitive to the needs of our clients

    • Ability to work well independently with minimal supervision

  • This position is responsible for checking clients in for their appointment and keeping the appointments on schedule.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Engage in positive, respectful communication (either written or verbal) at all times. Use of Google Translate is encouraged when there is a language barrier between volunteers-clients.

    • Greet clients as they arrive and serve them according to their appointment time. Look up the client on the on our database and verify ID for all household members.

    • Mark the client as collected in our database and give them a ticket based on their family size.

    • Direct them to the waiting room.

    Attributes and Qualifications:

    • Excellent customer service skills

    • Organization, written and communication skills

    • Good time management and problem solving skills

    • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

    • Good computer skills

    • Experience with computer database software is an asset

  • This position is responsible for assisting clients in the shopping area and answering any questions about allotments, location of items, etc.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Greet the client and ask for their ticket from Intake. The number(s) on the ticket indicate the size of their family.

    • Ask the client if they have been here before.  If they haven’t, provide them with an overview of how the shopping model works.

    •  Provide assistance to clients with the perishables (milk, frozen items, fruit/vegetables, and any other refrigerated items that are being distributed).

    • Answer questions about allotment or food items.  Any questions that you cannot field should be brought to staff.

    •  Suggest recipes or how to cook items.

    •  Tidy and re-stock the shelves during between clients.

    •  Weigh out all items from the warehouse or freezer when re-stocking and record the items

    •  Help with end-of-day tasks such as wiping the tables, sweeping the waiting room and shopping area, emptying the garbage, etc.

     Qualifications:

    • Excellent customer service skills

    • Excellent communication skills

    • Good problem solving skills

    • Tactful and diplomatic while being sensitive to the needs of our clients

    • Ability to keep client identity and information confidential

    • Ability to work well independently with minimal supervision

     

     

  • This position is responsible for assisting in all aspects of food operation including food movement, and warehouse maintenance. General Warehouse involves working directly with staff, other volunteers and donors. This position involves maintaining Food Bank cleanliness while adhering to program standards.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Assist in all areas of food operations, food movement, and warehouse maintenance

    • Greet and assist donors in a professional and courteous way

    • Weigh and record all donations

    • Unpack or putting away transfers

    • Maintain cleanliness (wiping tables, sweeping/mopping floor) and adhere to program standards

    Qualifications:

    • Ability to lift 40 lbs.

    • Organization, written and communication skills

    • Good time management and problem solving skills

    • Ability to work well with minimal supervision

    • Ability to work independently and in a team

    • Ability to use warehouse equipment (pump truck, hand dolly, cardboard and trash compactors, etc.)

    • Knowledge of date labelling and food production codes are an asset

    • Knowledge of warehouse logistics is an asset

    • Safe Food Handling certification is an asset

  • This position is responsible for assisting in all aspects of food operation including food movement, and warehouse maintenance. General Warehouse involves working directly with staff, other volunteers, and donors. This position involves working independently or in a team, and maintaining Food Bank cleanliness while adhering to program standards. One position is located at the Food Bank, the other at the Warehouse.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Assist in all areas of food operations, food movement, and warehouse maintenance

    • Greet and assist donors in a professional and courteous way

    • Weigh and record all donations

    • Unpack or put away deliveries or donations

    • Maintain cleanliness (sweeping/mopping floor) and adhere to program standards

    • Build transfers as directed

    • Make GoSnax; boxing and labelling as directed

    • Flexibility is required as this volunteer may also be needed to assist the driver with pick-ups and may be required to perform other duties as assigned

    Qualifications:

    • Ability to lift 40 lbs.

    • Organization, written and communication skills

    • Good time management and problem solving skills

    • Ability to work well with minimal supervision

    • Ability to work independently and in a team

    • Ability to use warehouse equipment (pump truck, hand dolly, cardboard and trash compactors, etc.)

    • Knowledge of date labelling and food production codes are an asset

    • Knowledge of warehouse logistics is an asset

    • Safe Food Handling certification is an asset

  • This position is responsible for checking all donations for damage (quality control) and sorting product by best before (bb) date and kind.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Check all soft packages (boxed and bagged) for any holes or damage.

    • Check all product for the best before date.

    • Sort all product to kind (eg. Cereal, canned meat, peanut butter, dry pasta, etc.) and then box and label.

    • Volunteers may be asked to help in other areas where needed and perform other duties as assigned (eg. Build transfers, help with CFS distribution, making Go Snax, etc.)

    Qualifications:

    • Ability to lift 40 lbs.

    • Organization, written and communication skills

    • Good time management and problem solving skills

    • Ability to work well with minimal supervision

    • Ability to work independently and in a team

    • Ability to use warehouse equipment (pump truck, hand dolly, cardboard and trash compactors, etc.)

    • Knowledge of date labelling and food production codes are an asset

    • Knowledge of warehouse logistics is an asset

    • Safe Food Handling certification is an asset

  • This position is responsible for packing both internal and external deliveries. Must be able to follow written and verbal instructions, work independently, and uphold confidentiality.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Check for prepared labels for external deliveries or collect the delivery slips.

    • Pack boxes according to each family size on the list provided.

    • Label the boxes and make additional labels as necessary.

    • Prepare a Delivery Checklist for internal deliveries only and leave it with the slips on top of the boxes.

    • Stack the boxes by name on the carts to be wheeled out to the driver’s car through the dock door.

    • Volunteer may be asked to help in other areas where needed and perform other duties as assigned (eg. Weighing, quality checking and stocking donations from stores, etc.).

    Attributes and Qualifications:

    • Ability to lift up to 30 lbs.

    • Attention to detail

    • Communication skills

    • Good time management and problem solving skills

    • Ability to work well with minimal supervision

  • This position is responsible for making deliveries to clients’ homes. Five deliveries are made on Tuesday and Thursdays, and ten deliveries are made on Fridays. One driver is scheduled per five deliveries.

    Duties and Responsibilities:

    • Pick up family and perishable boxes as prepared for the driver. Each set of boxes per family will be labelled accordingly and respond to the delivery slip.

    • Review the delivery slip and driver instructions. Ask any questions before leaving.

    • Deliver to the addresses provided on the delivery slips and route map.

    • If any deliveries cannot be made, leave a slip notifying the client to call and reschedule their delivery.

    • Return the delivery slip or send a copy to the Client Services Coordinator to verify that all deliveries have been made.

    • Undelivered boxes are to be returned to the Food Bank.

    • Other duties as assigned (may include packing deliveries, putting returned deliveries away, etc.)

    Qualifications:

    • Ability to lift up to 30 lbs.

    • Excellent customer service skills

    • Attention to detail

    • Communication skills

    • Good time management and problem solving skills

    • Ability to work well with minimal supervision

    • Ability to work independently and in a team

    • Must have access to a reliable vehicle

  • "I really appreciate the opportunity to help people in our community."

    — Raelle, Events Volunteer

  • "Since moving to Canada, it has been a good place for us, so I love having the opportunity to give back to the community."

    — Linda, Warehouse Stocker Volunteer

  • "I like to being able to make a difference in people’s lives every day."

    — Mohammed, In-take Desk Volunteer

  • "We believe that it is important to give back to the community together. "

    — Efuro & Bukola, husband and wife duo, Personal Shopper Volunteers