Summer’s here, and school’s out – what to do, what to do? There are some amazing opportunities to volunteer and get involved in the community with different organizations, helping you build an amazing portfolio.
Get going this summer by doing something amazing!
Here are some organizations offering volunteer positions this summer in Vancouver:
Greater Vancouver Food Bank
Requirements:
- Minimum age requirement: 16 years old, depending on event type
- Hours: shifts vary depending on event (typically 4 – 6 hour shifts)
- Our events require at least two people per event – invite friends and families to sign-up as well
What you will do as a volunteer:
Volunteers are needed for events ranging from golf tournaments to concerts to parades and more. If you are outgoing, energetic, enjoy interacting with crowds and have basic cash or credit handling skills, this is the right volunteering opportunity for you!
To apply: Fill out the application form, or contact Devan Ritchie at [email protected] or by phone: 604-216-3071.
Vancouver Coastal Health
Requirements:
Must be 16-years or older. The minimum volunteer commitment varies depending on the site and the specific volunteer position you are interested in. As a general rule, they ask volunteers to commit to two to three hours per week on a regular day for a minimum of four months.
What opportunities there are:
Hospitals
- Information and Wayfinding-help patients and visitors find their way to their destination
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One-to-one visiting – make friendly conversation with patients
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Retail – sell items in the gift shop, gift cart or thrift shop
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Patient libraries – keep library in order and help patients find books
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Occupational therapy – support arts and crafts activities, bus outings, gardening programs, breakfast groups, computer sessions and recreation activities
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Physiotherapy programs – help with ambulation and exercise groups
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Pet visitors – bring your pet to visit with patients who love animals
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Recreation and rehabilitation programs (on and off site) – fitness classes, shopping trips, art programs, swim programs and other recreation activities.
To apply: Vancouver Acute Volunteer Resources
Phone: 604-875-4111 x. 62028
Email: [email protected]
Fill out the application form here
*Includes Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital, George Pearson Centre, GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre and Dogwood Lodge.
Canadian Cancer Society
What opportunities there are:
Driver
As a volunteer driver, you will pick up people receiving cancer treatment from their home and take them to their treatment centre. You’ll be there to offer assistance at a time when they need it the most. And when their treatment is done, you’ll make sure they get home safely. With the kindness and support of volunteer drivers, people with cancer can focus on getting through their treatment. Within British Columbia, their transportation service offers volunteer driving and dispatching opportunities in Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and on Vancouver Island.
Society Office
Office volunteers play a vital role in the day-to-day support of community office teams. Volunteers often work on a regular basis and provide assistance with data entry, filing, photocopying and posting mail. Additional tasks can include processing donations, preparing receipts, greeting the public, answering phones, providing information and pitching in with events and projects.
Search volunteer opportunities at their Division office in Vancouver, four regional offices, 23 community offices.
Vancouver Fringe Festival
Since performers collect 100 per cent of the ticket revenue, volunteers are the lifeblood of the Vancouver Fringe Festival. Each year, over 600 people from all walks of life take on volunteer roles from helping set up venues, to answering artists’ and audience members’ questions, to serving drinks at the Fringe Bar, to selling tickets, to ushering. They have a very small number of permanent staff, so the Fringe couldn’t exist without volunteers!
What opportunities there are:
Count Room – Bean counters unite! Count, reconcile, and prepare floats and deposits in our top secret Count Room location. One of very few Fringe volunteer jobs where you are always warm and dry! Count Room volunteers need to be very familiar with Canadian currency, and some Count Room shifts go until midnight.
Count Room Captain – If you’ve volunteered in our Count Room before, or have event experience and are good with math, come be a Count Room Captain! Communicate with other departments via radio, process change requests from venues, and be the gatekeeper of our top secret location. Some shifts will involve late hours.
Office – Office volunteers help with a number of important tasks, from preparing artist welcome packages to compiling Pick of the Fringe results to entering new Fringe members into our database. If you’re comfortable around computers, this is the job for you! Office shifts start as early as August and continue as late as October, so there is a lot of work to be done.
Registration Attendants – This position is key to the Volunteer Centre. Registration Attendants are the keepers of the daily volunteer schedule, and help make the Volunteer Centre a fun, welcoming, and informative place for volunteers. They sign volunteers in for their shifts, take a lot of photos, let staff members know if there are any holes in the schedule, and call volunteers!
To apply: Contact Angie Descalzi volunteer [at] vancouverfringe.com
Vancouver Pride Society
The Vancouver Pride Society (VPS) brings together members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Two-Spirited and Queer (LGBTTQ) community, their friends, allies and supporters in celebration of the unique spirit and culture of our community. Vancouver Pride holds six major events each year and they couldn’t do it without the support of event volunteers! Event volunteers are responsible for the operations of events. From setup to teardown, volunteers support staff to run events.
What opportunities there are:
- Event setup and teardown
- Pride Ambassadors
- Event Hosts
- Volunteer Support
- Stage Management
- Food and Beverage Servers
- Merchandise Volunteers
To apply: Sign up here
Vancouver Farmers Market
Volunteering is a great way to get involved and help develop a more sustainable food system.There are a variety of opportunities to volunteer at Vancouver Farmers Markets and six different markets to choose from.
Requirements:
- Be at least 16 years old
- Be able to attend the orientation
- Be able to commit to at least six three-hour shifts or three months of volunteering
What volunteers will be required to do:
- Create welcoming atmospheres at the markets
- Cover vendor breaks
- Establish pedestrian-safe market zones
- Keep food scraps out of the landfill
- Educate kids and adults about seasonal produce
- Promote special events
- Accept donations to local food programs
To apply: Sign up here
Vancouver Rape Relief & Women’s Shelter
Volunteer with Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter to make a difference in women’s lives, including yours! Be part of the women’s movement and meet likeminded women. Learn more about feminism by working in solidarity with women at a grassroots level. See the positive and inspiring changes women make in their lives.
Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter needs women who are interested in volunteering for the 24- hour crisis line and the transition house for women and their children.
To apply: Contact the shelter at 604-872-8212
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
CMHA VB is a volunteer-driven organization that depends on volunteers like you to help us to develop our vision and provide services. Annually, over 350 volunteers contribute almost 4000 hours of community service. At conservative rates, this adds over $150,000 of additional staffing to both CMHA and the wider community.
To apply: Sign up here
The Writer’s Exchange
Help kids build literacy skills and self-esteem through fun creative-writing projects and tutoring! Volunteer mentors provide support for the kids during after-school tutoring and writing workshops. Volunteers can also run workshops and help with program planning, events, fundraising and other administrative duties.
Requirements: Must be 16-years or older.
Summer Programs
Mondays to Wednesdays
10 a.m. to Noon and 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
At 881 East Hastings and community sites
Running from July 2 to August 20
Mentors work with kids on super-fun literacy projects, like the creation of a Vancouver guidebook, sidewalk chalk stories, create-a-creature, high school hang-out writing sessions and more.
To apply: Find the application form at the bottom of this page.
Shaw TV
Shaw offers many volunteer opportunities in studio, mobile and on location (EFP) productions. Our volunteer program is designed to provide each participant with a progressive range of current production experiences. There are a variety of positions available including producing, directing, camera, floor-director, teleprompter operator, production assistant, video tape operator or graphics operator. Whether you are pursuing a career in television or looking for a challenging extracurricular activity or hobby, community television volunteering has something for everyone.
Requirement:
Minimum 3 days per week for 3months, or equivalent
(crew call weekdays (M-F) as determined-generally 8:30am-2pm)
To apply: Submit your application form to Anita Hayek at [email protected]
Featured Image: Volunteer dictionary via Shutterstock