If you love animals, volunteer at a shelter — there are many roles to fill. | VIDEO: WAVEBREAKMEDIA/ENVATO
Top 10 Ways You Can Donate Your Time and Volunteer
Many organizations that do important work in your community rely on local volunteering to keep running. Here’s how to participate.
By Vawn Himmelsbach
Do you want to make a difference in your community? While it’s true that most organizations need financial support and you can donate money to a cause close to your heart, consider making your contribution through volunteer opportunities. Whether you’re donating your time, your knowledge or a unique skillset, here are 10 ways you can make a difference by helping local charities that align with your values to fulfill their missions.
SELECT A QUESTION TO JUMP TO THAT SECTION.
Have long hair you’re willing to part with?
Love animals?
Enjoy visiting the museum?
Enjoy DIY projects?
Are you a people person?
Like cooking?
Book lover?
Love the arts?
Passionate about nature?
Are you an athlete?
➊ Have long hair you’re willing to part with? Donate it to help make a wig.
When you make a hair donation in Canada, your locks are used to create wigs for people experiencing hair loss due to conditions, such as alopecia or medical treatments such as chemotherapy. Wigs can be very expensive and out of reach financially, but several organizations accept hair donations to create free wigs for those who need one. A Child’s Voice Foundation runs Angel Hair For Kids and the Canadian Cancer Foundation runs Wigs for Kids. Most organizations that accept hair donations require a minimum length — usually at least 8 to 12 inches. Most stipulate too that the hair needs to be chemically untreated, though some organizations, like Chai Life, will accept coloured or permed hair, so it’s important to read the specifications for donations.
Cut your hair and donate it to an organization that will turn it into a wig for a person experiencing hair loss due to a medical condition or treatment. | PHOTO: davidpradoperucha/envato
➋ Love animals? Become an animal shelter volunteer.
Did you know most animal shelters and wildlife rehabilitation centres are heavily dependent on volunteers? Many don’t require a large time commitment and would welcome a few hours a week. You can help out by rescuing, caring for or transporting injured animals; grooming and walking dogs; or lending a hand behind the scenes at animal rescue organizations such as the Toronto Humane Society, Ontario SPCA and Ontario Wildlife Rescue.
From animal shelters to wildlife preserves, there are many organizations that need volunteers to help look after animals. | PHOTO: ANDREJ LISAKOV/UNSPLASH
➌ Enjoy visiting the museum? Lead tours, be a docent or do outreach.
Donating your time and expertise can be a rewarding way to support a museum. For example, the 65,000-sq.-ft. Canadian Canoe Museum on the waterfront of the Trent-Severn Waterway in Peterborough needs volunteers who can give tours or help visitors fit a personal flotation device, so they can get out on the water. Love cars? Try Oshawa’s Canadian Automotive Museum; they only require a two-hour weekly or on-call commitment. Larger institutions, including the Royal Ontario Museum, have a dedicated department of volunteers, but even the smaller ones welcome volunteers, so check in with the one that appeals to you to find out what they need. A visit to the Museums in Canada website may help you find one right in your neighbourhood.
Museums often have a variety of positions to fill; find one that matches your interests. | PHOTO: SEVENTYFOUR/ADOBE STOCK
➍ Enjoy DIY projects? Help build affordable homes.
Join a volunteer construction crew and get to work building homes for those in need. Habitat for Humanity Sault Ste. Marie is currently building affordable homes for low-income families in the area and relies on volunteers to get the job done. Check your local Habitat for Humanity program to see if there is a build in your community.
Whether you have the skills or need some instruction, you can join a build and help construct a new home. | PHOTO: YUNUS TUG/UNSPLASH
➎ Are you a people person? Volunteer at your local hospital or seniors’ centre.
Company is a wonderful way to show kindness. Whether it’s having a conversation, reading a book to someone or playing a game of cards, donating your time can bring joy to isolated seniors. Many organizations, such as Circle of Care, Halton Healthcare and Seniors Association Kingston Region, look for volunteers to provide companionship to seniors in local hospitals or seniors’ centres.
No special skills required — just spend time with residents and patients. Your company is the thing that’s needed most. | PHOTO: AGE CYMRU/UNSPLASH
➏ Like cooking? Help out at the food bank.
Local food banks are often looking for volunteers to fill various roles, from sorting food and packing hampers to kitchen prep and meal delivery. To find a food bank near you, search Feed Ontario, which represents more than 1,200 food banks and hunger relief organizations in the province. You can also reach out to local neighbourhood food banks for local volunteering opportunities.
Find a food bank close to you and help feed your community. | PHOTO: CULTURA CREATIVE/ADOBE STOCK
➐ Book lover? Volunteer at a local library.
Libraries have always been at the heart of the community, supporting families with programming, assisting students with their studies and hosting events for all ages. From helping the librarians optimize organization, to managing events and programming to supporting patrons during their visits, libraries offer a host of opportunities to get involved. Currently, the Brampton Library has volunteering opportunities for teens 14 and up as program assistants, while adult opportunities include taking library materials to those unable to visit the branch.
Your local library is a hub of the community; there are a number of ways to get involved. | PHOTO: NONVIG/PEOPLEIMAGES.COM/ADOBE STOCK
➑ Love the arts? Get involved with a local festival.
Whether it’s dance, music or theatre, if you love the arts, consider volunteering at a festival. Organizers often look for volunteers to help out with everything from selling tickets to serving as a greeter or usher, usually in exchange for festival access and perks. Most municipalities offer cultural events with a volunteer program. You can also contact major festivals, such as The Stratford Festival, Oktoberfest in Kitchener-Waterloo and the Mariposa Folk Festival in Orillia. If you’re trying to fit volunteering into a busy lifestyle, opting for a one-day event can be a great fit.
Don’t just go to the festival — be a part of it by volunteering. | PHOTO: MONKEYBUSINESS/ENVATO
➒ Passionate about nature? Help rebuild hiking trails.
If you love being out in nature, volunteer to maintain and rebuild trails in Ontario parks through regional conservation authorities and local stewardship programs. The Bruce Trail Conservancy includes nine individual clubs, with each club looking after a segment of the park, while the Ontario Trails Council offers other ways to volunteer, including as an ambassador at trade shows.
If you love spending time in nature, volunteering to maintain trails is the perfect match. | PHOTO: A-C/UNSPLASH
➓ Are you an athlete? Coach local youth sports.
Contact local community leagues to find volunteer coaching opportunities. From very young athletes lacing up their first pair of skates to seniors in high school looking for opportunities to play lacrosse in university, coaching allows you to do more than teach a sport; it allows you to mentor a young person. You can teach technique, recount stories about your playing experience and share your passion for the game. This is a significant commitment, requiring regular participation at practices and games throughout a season. Check out Football Ontario to tackle an opportunity or check in with your local leagues. Beyond coaching, recreational sports leagues often require equipment managers, board members and officials to call games, which can be less time-consuming and offer more flexible volunteering opportunities. CAA
You love your sport, so why not share it with the next generation of players? | PHOTO: astrakanimages/ENVATO
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Have long hair you’re willing to part with?
Love animals?
Enjoy visiting the museum?
Enjoy DIY projects?
Are you a people person?
Like cooking?
Book lover?
Love the arts?
Passionate about nature?
Are you an athlete?
Cut your hair and donate it to an organization that will turn it into a wig for a person experiencing hair loss due to a medical condition or treatment. | PHOTO: davidpradoperucha/envato
➊ Have long hair you’re willing to part with? Donate it to help make a wig.
When you make a hair donation in Canada, your locks are used to create wigs for people experiencing hair loss due to conditions, such as alopecia or medical treatments such as chemotherapy. Wigs can be very expensive and out of reach financially, but several organizations accept hair donations to create free wigs for those who need one. A Child’s Voice Foundation runs Angel Hair For Kids and the Canadian Cancer Foundation runs Wigs for Kids. Most organizations that accept hair donations require a minimum length — usually at least 8 to 12 inches. Most stipulate too that the hair needs to be chemically untreated, though some organizations, like Chai Life, will accept coloured or permed hair, so it’s important to read the specifications for donations.
From animal shelters to wildlife preserves, there are many organizations that need volunteers to help look after animals. | PHOTO: ANDREJ LISAKOV/UNSPLASH
➋ Love animals? Become an animal shelter volunteer.
Did you know most animal shelters and wildlife rehabilitation centres are heavily dependent on volunteers? Many don’t require a large time commitment and would welcome a few hours a week. You can help out by rescuing, caring for or transporting injured animals; grooming and walking dogs; or lending a hand behind the scenes at animal rescue organizations such as the Toronto Humane Society, Ontario SPCA and Ontario Wildlife Rescue.
Museums often have a variety of positions to fill; find one that matches your interests. | PHOTO: SEVENTYFOUR/ADOBE STOCK
➌ Enjoy visiting the museum? Lead tours, be a docent or do outreach.
Donating your time and expertise can be a rewarding way to support a museum. For example, the 65,000-sq.-ft. Canadian Canoe Museum on the waterfront of the Trent-Severn Waterway in Peterborough needs volunteers who can give tours or help visitors fit a personal flotation device, so they can get out on the water. Love cars? Try Oshawa’s Canadian Automotive Museum; they only require a two-hour weekly or on-call commitment. Larger institutions, including the Royal Ontario Museum, have a dedicated department of volunteers, but even the smaller ones welcome volunteers, so check in with the one that appeals to you to find out what they need. A visit to the Museums in Canada website may help you find one right in your neighbourhood.
Whether you have the skills or need some instruction, you can join a build and help construct a new home. | PHOTO: YUNUS TUG/UNSPLASH
➍ Enjoy DIY projects? Help build affordable homes.
Join a volunteer construction crew and get to work building homes for those in need. Habitat for Humanity Sault Ste. Marie is currently building affordable homes for low-income families in the area and relies on volunteers to get the job done. Check your local Habitat for Humanity program to see if there is a build in your community.
No special skills required — just spend time with residents and patients. Your company is the thing that’s needed most. | PHOTO: AGE CYMRU/UNSPLASH
➎ Are you a people person? Volunteer at your local hospital or seniors’ centre.
Company is a wonderful way to show kindness. Whether it’s having a conversation, reading a book to someone or playing a game of cards, donating your time can bring joy to isolated seniors. Many organizations, such as Circle of Care, Halton Healthcare and Seniors Association Kingston Region, look for volunteers to provide companionship to seniors in local hospitals or seniors’ centres.
Find a food bank close to you and help feed your community. | PHOTO: CULTURA CREATIVE/ADOBE STOCK
➏ Like cooking? Help out at the food bank.
Local food banks are often looking for volunteers to fill various roles, from sorting food and packing hampers to kitchen prep and meal delivery. To find a food bank near you, search Feed Ontario, which represents more than 1,200 food banks and hunger relief organizations in the province. You can also reach out to local neighbourhood food banks for local volunteering opportunities.
Your local library is a hub of the community; there are a number of ways to get involved. | PHOTO: NONVIG/PEOPLEIMAGES.COM/ADOBE STOCK
➐ Book lover? Volunteer at a local library.
Libraries have always been at the heart of the community, supporting families with programming, assisting students with their studies and hosting events for all ages. From helping the librarians optimize organization, to managing events and programming to supporting patrons during their visits, libraries offer a host of opportunities to get involved. Currently, the Brampton Library has volunteering opportunities for teens 14 and up as program assistants, while adult opportunities include taking library materials to those unable to visit the branch.
Don’t just go to the festival — be a part of it by volunteering. | PHOTO: MONKEYBUSINESS/ENVATO
➑ Love the arts? Get involved with a local festival.
Whether it’s dance, music or theatre, if you love the arts, consider volunteering at a festival. Organizers often look for volunteers to help out with everything from selling tickets to serving as a greeter or usher, usually in exchange for festival access and perks. Most municipalities offer cultural events with a volunteer program. You can also contact major festivals, such as The Stratford Festival, Oktoberfest in Kitchener-Waterloo and the Mariposa Folk Festival in Orillia. If you’re trying to fit volunteering into a busy lifestyle, opting for a one-day event can be a great fit.
If you love spending time in nature, volunteering to maintain trails is the perfect match. | PHOTO: A-C/UNSPLASH
➒ Passionate about nature? Help rebuild hiking trails.
If you love being out in nature, volunteer to maintain and rebuild trails in Ontario parks through regional conservation authorities and local stewardship programs. The Bruce Trail Conservancy includes nine individual clubs, with each club looking after a segment of the park, while the Ontario Trails Council offers other ways to volunteer, including as an ambassador at trade shows.
You love your sport, so why not share it with the next generation of players? | PHOTO: astrakanimages/ENVATO
➓ Are you an athlete? Coach local youth sports.
Contact local community leagues to find volunteer coaching opportunities. From very young athletes lacing up their first pair of skates to seniors in high school looking for opportunities to play lacrosse in university, coaching allows you to do more than teach a sport; it allows you to mentor a young person. You can teach technique, recount stories about your playing experience and share your passion for the game. This is a significant commitment, requiring regular participation at practices and games throughout a season. Check out Football Ontario to tackle an opportunity or check in with your local leagues. Beyond coaching, recreational sports leagues often require equipment managers, board members and officials to call games, which can be less time-consuming and offer more flexible volunteering opportunities. CAA