VOLUNTEER
Nothing Teaches Hope, Kindness, Courage and Compassion More Than Helping Others
Kerr Street Mission relies on volunteers to help our programs run smoothly. If you are interested in a volunteer role, please take a look at the positions available below.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Our organization carefully selects its volunteers, and not everyone who applies will be accepted.
KSM takes its responsibilities with respect to our clients seriously, and screens volunteer applicants thoroughly. Our screening process includes a preliminary interview followed by reference checks for successful candidates. A current (within 90 days) Vulnerable Sector Check is also required from successful candidates before they begin volunteering.
PLEASE NOTE: The application and placement process may take 4-6 weeks to complete.
CURRENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
There are currently no volunteer opportunities at this time.
KSM General Volunteer Application - Future Opportunity
At times, we do not have volunteer opportunities available. If you would like to submit an application for future consideration, please apply below. We will hold on to your application for a 3 month period in the event an opportunity arises within your specified area of interest.
Market Greeter & Screener
Greet incoming clients and perform health screening to maintain a safe environment at KSM. Open to volunteers 18+.
- Monday 12:45 pm – 2:30 pm
- Thursday 9:45 am – 11:30 am
Position: Market Greeter & Screener
Time: Various
Supervisor(s): Food Services Team
Objective: To greet and screen clients coming to KSM to utilize our market services.
Responsibilities:
- Greet clients as they enter KSM
- Wearing a mandatory mask and face-shield (gloves optional), go through the COVID questionnaire with each client
- Take each clients temperature using an infrared thermometer
- Record each client’s name and temperature information in the binder provided
- Advise clients that do not pass the COVID screening that they may not enter the premises, and provide alternatives for acquiring their weekly allotment of food
- Direct clients who pass the COVID screening to the appropriate location
- Help manage the flow of clients through the physically distanced line-up, communicating with other volunteers/staff by walkie talkie as needed
- Escalate any issues to KSM staff
Requirements:
- Must be 18+
- Ability to wear a mask and optional gloves/face shield for the duration of time at KSM
- Ability to work independently
- Ability to be firm and consistent in approach to screening
- Friendly disposition
Commitment: Minimum 3 month commitment, one 2 hour shift per week
Training: Volunteer Training Manual, KSM Orientation, Support from staff
Warehouse Volunteer
Help to organize our food inventory and replenish our shelves on a weekly basis. Heavy lifting is required. Open to ages 18+.
- Thursday 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Position: Warehouse Volunteer
Supervisor(s): Warehouse Supervisor
Objective: To ensure food is received, sorted, packaged and ready for distribution to clients.
Responsibilities:
- Receive food deliveries
- Greet food donors, weigh and record food donations
- Sort food based on category and store in the appropriate location
- Assist with the first in, first out flow of food. Shuffle crates and boxes of food in the warehouse as needed
- Organize food in refrigeration units
- Replenish food in the market as required
- Keep warehouse and sorting area clean and organized
- Maintain a courteous and professional manner with staff and other volunteers
- Occasionally accompany KSM staff to go offsite and pick up donations
Requirements:
- Must be 18+
- Ability to lift 40-50 pounds with ease
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Good multi-tasking skills
- Ability to take direction
- Good problem solving ability
- Attention to detail
Commitment: Minimum 3 month commitment
Training: Volunteer Training Manual, KSM Orientation, Support from staff
Bread Bagging Volunteer
Help us package and display fresh, donated bread for pick-up by our clients. Open to volunteers aged 18+.
- Fridays 8:30am – 10:00am
- Tuesdays 8:30am – 10:00am
Position: Cobs Bread Delivery Volunteers (Volunteer Pairs required, students welcome)
Supervisor(s): Cobs Volunteer Coordinator
Objective: To transport bread from Cobs Bread (Lakeshore) to Kerr Street Mission in a
timely fashion.
Responsibilities:
- Two people are required at a time to perform this task
- Using your vehicle, arrive at Cobs Bread Lakeshore Road location when the store closes and package up all of the unsold product which Cobs donates to Kerr Street Mission
- Use gloves and bags provided by Cobs to ensure sanitary packaging of the bread products
- Load up your vehicle and deliver the packaged bread to the volunteers/staff at the Kerr Street Mission
Requirements:
- One person in the volunteer pair must be 18+ with a valid drivers’ license and access to a vehicle
- Punctuality
- Ability to lift approximately 20 pounds of bread product
- Diligence to complete the job in a thorough and timely manner
- Good problem solving ability
Commitment: One hour per week, or as many days of the week you would like to volunteer.
Training: Procedures and on-site training
Christmas Wonders Toy Coordinator
Become a member of our Christmas Wonders team by leading and managing the toy component of the program. Open to volunteers aged 18+.
- August to December, with volunteer hours increasing in December
Position: Christmas Wonders Toy Coordinator
Supervisor(s): Christmas Wonders Lead
Objective: To provide families with the opportunity to select toys for their children and brighten their holiday season.
Responsibilities:
- Attend Christmas Wonders planning meetings and provide input and feedback as to how this years’ program will be run
- Using past data as a guideline, estimate the number of children that will be participating in the Christmas Wonders program
- Co-ordinate toy donations and deliveries with the Oakville Fire and Police Departments to ensure KSM’s needs are met
- Work with KSM staff to arrange toy storage and organization leading up to the toy distribution dates.
- With KSM staff, create a plan for leftover toys (donations or storage)
- Estimate the number of volunteers that will be required leading up to and including the distribution dates and provide this info to KSM’s volunteer coordinator
- Lead a group of volunteers in the set up of the toy distribution area
- Participate and lead groups of volunteers during the toy distribution sessions
- Lead a group of volunteers in the teardown, boxing and storage of leftover toys
Recommended Skills & Abilities:
- Sense of ownership and ability to work with autonomy to achieve the objectives defined by KSM
- Strong organizational and management skills
- Well developed multi-tasking capability
- Ability to lead and work well with people, providing direction in a kind and respectful manner
- Strong problem-solving ability
- A humble heart
- Desire to provide a dignified and positive experience to families in need
Requirements:
- Suitable for volunteers 18+
- Current Vulnerable Sector Check
- Flexible schedule. The number of volunteer hours increases significantly in December
- Relevant work or volunteer experience
Kerr Street After School Program Snack Volunteer
Prepare nutritious snacks for the children in our After School Program. Open to volunteers 18+.
- Monday 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
- Thursday 1:30 pm – 3:45 pm
- Friday 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Position: Snack Volunteer
Supervisor: After School Program Lead
Objective: To prepare nutritious snacks for the children in the Kerr Street After School Program.
Responsibilities:
- Prepare snack for approximately 15 children according to the menu and ingredients provided by KSM
- Follow safe food handling practices during food preparation and service
- Set up food service area prior to children’s arrival
- Plate/serve snack to participants
- Interact positively with children, following COVID-19 protocols
- Clean up dining area and kitchen in accordance with KSM guidelines
Requirements:
- Must be 18+
- Must be able to relate appropriately to children and exhibit positive role modeling
- Vulnerable Sector Check
- Record of up to date immunizations (Diptheria/Tetanus/Poliomyelitis/Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
- Results of TB skin test done within last 2 years
- Safe Food Handling Certification is an asset but not required
Client Delivery Volunteer
Help us distribute food parcels to our clients in a local seniors building, in a contactless manner. Open to volunteers aged 18+.
- Thursdays: 8:15 am – 9:00 am
Position: Client Delivery Volunteer
Supervisor(s): Client Delivery Coordinator
Objective: To deliver food parcels to our elderly clients.
Responsibilities:
- On a weekly basis, meet KSM staff and/or fellow volunteers at a local seniors building
- If required, help bring food parcels from the delivery van into the building lobby
- Deliver food parcels to clients’ apartment doors, per the client delivery list
- Ensure parcels are delivered in a contact-less manner
- Report any issues to the Community Deliveries Coordinator
Requirements:
- Must be 18+ oMust be punctual and reliable
- Demonstrates organization and attention to detail
- Has ability to work independently
- Good problem-solving ability
- Ability to wear a face mask and follow COVID-19 protocol
- Vulnerable Sector Check is required
Commitment: Minimum 3-month commitment.
Training: Volunteer Training Manual, KSM Orientation, Support from staff
Client Delivery Volunteer Driver
Deliver food parcels in a contact-less manner to clients who are unable to come to Kerr Street Mission in person. Open to volunteers aged 18+.
- Thursdays between 9:00 am and 10:30 am
Position: Client Delivery Volunteer Driver
Supervisor(s): Client Delivery Coordinator
Objective: To deliver food parcels to clients who are unable to come to Kerr Street Mission in person due to health, mobility or other reasons.
Responsibilities:
- Once a week, deliver food parcels according to a prescribed route within the Oakville area (approximately 5-8 drop-offs per shift).
- Arrive at KSM at the scheduled time to pick up food parcels and load car.
- Follow route to clients addresses, following the drop-off instructions on the list provided.
- Make contact-less drop-offs –once contact has been made with clients via phone or by buzzer, drop the items on their front step or lobby.
- If contact cannot be made, return the food parcels to KSM.
- Contact the Community Delivery Coordinator if any issues arise along the route and also to confirm deliveries have been made.
- Shred documents containing client information once deliveries are complete.
- Represent KSM in a positive and caring way with our clients and in the community.
Requirements:
- Must be 18+
- Must be reliable and punctual
- Good driver with current auto insurance
- Ability to lift up to 30 lbs with no issue
- Possess a mobile phone with text capability
- Good organizational skills and attention to detail
- Compassion, patience and respect for client confidentiality
- Ability to cover cost of gas/mileage for weekly trips
- A ‘Vulnerable Sector Check’ (police check) is required
Commitment: Minimum 3-month commitment.
Training: KSM Policy & Procedure Training; Orientation; Support from staff.
Food Market Volunteer
Assist clients through their market (food bank) shopping experience on a weekly basis. Open to volunteers aged 18+.
- Monday 12:45pm – 2:30pm
Position: Food Market Volunteer
Supervisor(s): Warehouse, Merchandising and Meal Preparation Coordinator
Objective: To assist clients through all stages of their market experience and to provide comfort, dignity, and a sense of safety to those using our services atKSM.
Responsibilities:
- Store Check-In:
- Manage the flow of clients entering the market and ensure safe physical distancing is being practiced.
- Ensure that clients have been screened, verify Membership cards, and log each client’s visit using our Food Bank database. Communicate the size of the client’s family and program participation to other volunteers so that the clients can receive the correct items.
- Store Assistant:
- Assist clients requiring help with their shopping baskets or with bagging, hand out produce from the fridge to ensure the proper amount is being fairly given, and help clients make informed choices based on food availability.
- Ensure appropriate physical distancing is occurring within the market space.
- Check-Out:
- Distribute Choose Fresh items to participating clients.
- Verify that client’s food selections match their allocation based on family size, kindly communicate with client’s if they have chosen too many items and return to the appropriate shelf. Ensure clients are leaving safely through the appropriate exit.
Requirements:
- Must be 18+
- Must have a current Vulnerable Sector Check
- Ability to respond firmly, compassionately and with grace
- Understanding of compassion, valuing diversity, and awareness of issues facing this particular population
Commitment: Minimum 3-month commitment; must be present and on time for hours of food bank operation.
Training: Policy & Procedure Training; Orientation; Support from staff
Are you ready to volunteer at KSM?
for more information about how you can get involved.
