Our Volunteer Program is currently under construction. We will be redeveloping the application process. Please check here for more updates as they come.
Thank you for considering how you can help advance our mission of fighting poverty in Hamilton. By volunteering, you will be making a real difference in creating a more prosperous and caring city for everyone.
For more information, please send your inquiry to Katrine at
volunteer@mission-services.ca or, call 905 528 5100-ext.1104.
What You Can Expect
- Meet and interact with great people
- Help Mission Services achieve its goal of serving every person who comes to us in need
- Learn, build, and contribute your unique skills
- Gain valuable and even life-changing experiences
- Receive support and assistance every step of the way!
If you are interested in group volunteering, please email our Volunteer Coordinator, Katrine, at kraymond@mission-services.com.
Getting Started!
Below you can see all of the programs and services at Mission Services where volunteers are active. These will help you decide where you’d like to spend your time with us. During the application and interview process, you can let us know what your availability is and what kind of schedule works best for you.
Volunteer Opportunities
Willow’s Place is a safe daytime drop-in for women that runs seven days a week. There are a wide range of volunteer roles at Willow’s Place including serving meals to participants, assisting with meal clean-up, and interacting with service users during programming.Inasmuch House is a 37-bed shelter for women and children at risk of homelessness, or escaping from abusive relationships and the effects of trauma. Your volunteer opportunities within the shelter include assisting in running the LEAF program, organizing and sorting donations and storage, running groups for residents, and providing support with meals by helping to serve and clean up.
The 196 is an afterschool program for youth in grades 6-9 in the neighbourhoods surrounding our Wentworth street location. As a volunteer in The 196, you may be asked to assist staff with the supervision of students within the building, help youth with homework and after-school projects, assist with crafts and playing games, support with outdoor activities such as visiting the park or gardening, and mentor youth and listen to their concerns.
A Kitchen Assistant volunteer helps with preparing ingredients needed for cooking meals in our shelter or community kitchens, serving client meals in a cafeteria-style environment, and assisting with washing dishes and clean-up. Requirements may include being able to lift 20 pounds, stand and walk for 3-4 hours at a time, work in a hot kitchen, following kitchen rules to ensure proper hygiene, and the ability to follow instructions from Food Services staff regarding safe food handling.
The Good Food Centre is an emergency food program that provides groceries to food-insecure families. Volunteering at the Centre may involve preparing produce packs according to family size, building grocery packs according to family size and dietary and cultural requests, stocking shelves, and assisting with warehouse organization and stocking incoming products.
The Good Food Centre is an emergency food program that provides groceries to food-insecure families. Volunteering at the Centre may involve preparing produce packs according to family size, building grocery packs according to family size and dietary and cultural requests, stocking shelves, and assisting with warehouse organization and stocking incoming products.
The central Administration of Mission Services can benefit tremendously from the involvement of clerical and administrative volunteers in our Development, Human Resources and Volunteer Programs.
Facilities Services maintains and cares for our physical spaces. As a Facilities Maintenance Volunteer, your responsibilities may include assisting with repairs and maintenance as needed, landscaping work, and cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
1How old do I have to be to volunteer?
We have volunteer opportunities for anyone aged 16 or older.
2How long does the application process take?
MSH Volunteer Resources will respond to an inquiry or an application as soon as possible. Once the application is received, an interview will be scheduled. A volunteer placement will be confirmed at the interview. Once all the required reference checks are completed and the documents signed you will be able to start.
3Will I receive training?
All volunteers will receive specific training with regards to their program and position. Volunteers will also be asked to participate in a general orientation.
4Is there a specific time commitment?
Volunteer shifts vary from program to program but are generally 2 hours to about 4 hours once per week.
5Do I need previous volunteer experience?
You do not need previous experience to volunteer with us. The placement of a volunteer is based solely on the individual’s ability to meet the volunteer position requirements established by the program and successfully completing the screening and volunteer process.
6I signed up but can no longer come, what do I do?
If you have committed to a volunteer position within a program, you will have a contact number/email for your supervisor that you would use to connect with them.