Meet Some of Our Volunteers!
Happy National Volunteer Week!
Leah
Leah has been volunteering with Mission Services since September of 2025. A master’s student in the Kinesiology program at McMaster, she’s turned her passion for women’s fitness into a unique volunteer opportunity as the Health and Wellness Coach at Inasmuch House.
“I was looking for a place that I felt I resonated with, and I found Mission Services. I’m very passionate about women’s health and exercise, and I thought that this would be a good place to exercise that, literally.”
Leah runs fitness classes once a week for any of the women who want to join in. She said that when women arrive at Inasmuch House, survival is at the forefront of their mind, and exercise tends to take a backseat to immediate needs.
“A few of the women have explained to me that before having to change their living situation, they were regularly going to the gym or exercising. When their life circumstances changed, that fell by the wayside and wasn’t a priority anymore.”
Exercise can mean different things to different people. Some consider it as a welcome return to routine, while for others it can be a reprieve from reality or a rare opportunity for self-care.
“They can get out of their headspace and it’s a nice way to just escape a little bit. I don’t know everything that’s going on in their personal circumstances, but I can provide a time where they can just focus on themselves for 30-40 minutes.”
While starting a new program can be challenging, Leah is starting to see more women attend her classes and join in on the fun.
“I’ve had some of the new mothers join in recently, and they still participate while briefly taking pauses to attend to their children. I find that remarkable because they’re still trying to use the resources that are available to them and take a little bit of time to do some movement while having those responsibilities.”
“That little bit of movement and exercise can really benefit someone physically, but it can also benefit them mentally. That’s where I come in – to provide a space for people where both are possible.”
Do you have an idea for a unique volunteer opportunity? Contact Cherrise, our volunteer coordinator for more information at 905-528-4211, ext. 1104, or cpinder@mission-services.com.
Welcome to the Mission Services Community! Thanks so much for your interest in volunteering. Volunteers play a big role in our work and are vital to the meaningful impact we have in the community. We look forward to getting to know you and learning about your interests and skills.
Please note that there is a process to becoming a volunteer. As part of our onboarding, we require:
- An interview with the Volunteer Coordinator
- Online registration and document signing (available below)
After these steps, we provide an orientation to Mission Services and role-specific training that will prepare you for your volunteer position. 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
volunteer@mission-services.com
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!
Thank You for Your Interest in Volunteering with Mission Services!
Volunteers are a vital part of our mission to serve individuals and families experiencing poverty, homelessness, addiction, and food insecurity. We offer a variety of opportunities for community members to get involved in meaningful ways. To get started, please select the type of volunteer that best applies to you:
- Adult Volunteers
- Youth Volunteers (17 and Under)
- Student Placements and Residents
- Group or Organization Volunteers
- Email us at communityrelations@mission-services.com or Call us at 905-528-4211 ext 3113
Volunteer Opportunities
Willow’s Place is a safe daytime drop-in for women that runs seven days a week. Opportunities for volunteer roles at Willow’s Place include planning and running craft and social activities, interacting with service users during programming, serving meals to participants, and assisting with meal clean-up.
Inasmuch Houseis a 40-bed shelter for women and children who have experienced abuse and homelessness. Your volunteer opportunities within the shelter include organizing and sorting donations and storage, assisting in supporting the LEAF program (Learning Effective Anti-Violence in Families), administrative support at the front desk, providing support with meals by helping to serve and clean up, and special projects.
The Men’s Emergency Shelter is open 24-7. Here we give shelter and meals to men who are experiencing homelessness or have nowhere else safe to go. Some of the volunteer roles here include helping in the kitchen and special projects like gardening, sorting and organizing donations, and assisting our maintenance team to support the cleanliness of the environment.
Housing UP! supports individuals experiencing episodic and chronic homelessness to improve their housing status by obtaining safe, affordable, and stable housing within the Hamilton community. Once housed, Case Managers maintain ongoing contact to support them with their transition to independent living and to achieve their wellness goals. Volunteer roles include special opportunities such as assembling IKEA furniture for clients and sorting and organizing inventory.
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 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 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 kitchens or community kitchen, 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 grocery packs according to family size and dietary and cultural requests, stocking shelves, and assisting with warehouse organization and stocking incoming products.
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
We have volunteer opportunities for anyone aged 16 or older.
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.
All volunteers will receive specific training with regards to their program and position. Volunteers will also be asked to participate in a general orientation.
Volunteer shifts vary from program to program but are generally 2 hours to about 4 hours once per week.
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.
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.