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 all who apply will be accepted. KSM takes its responsibilities in respect of our participants seriously, and screens all applicants thoroughly. As part of our screening process, we require a Criminal Reference Check for anyone over the age of 16, and that the Vulnerable Sector Screening portion is included for anyone above the age of 18. Any applications received that do not include a current (within 90 days of the issue date) police check, will not be reviewed until this requirement is fulfilled.
Once your application and police check have been received we will send you a follow up e-mail to schedule an interview.
Please Note: The application and placement process may take upwards of 4-6 weeks to complete.
CURRENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Christmas Wonders Volunteers
For more then 16 years, KSM has rallied the community together to help families in need celebrate the Christmas Season. Through financial donations from our community, we have been able to bless over 1,200 families with gifts of food for a holiday meal, including a turkey, fresh food box, pyjamas and gift cards (which are used to purchase gifts for their loved ones). It is our goal this year to once again help these families have a special and memorable holiday, and we need volunteers to make it happen!
Below are the positions we have available.
Duration: November 18 – 22, 2019
We are looking for volunteer pairs to help advertise our Christmas Wonders program by visiting nearby businesses and asking permission to display our posters in their locations. Volunteer pairs will be assigned to a specific area and will be equipped with supplies in order to complete the task. The expected duration is 1-2 hours per area, between November 18 and 22, 2019. This opportunity is open to adults, or students aged 14-17 if accompanied by an adult.
Police checks are not required for this opportunity.
Warehouse Assistance
Help us receive deliveries and keep our shelves fully stocked and organized between food bank shopping times. Open to volunteers aged 18+.
- Mondays: 8:30 am – 10:30 am (2 positions available)
- Thursdays: 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
- Fridays: 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Position: Warehouse Assistant
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 food and record entry
- Sort and store food in the warehouse
- Check for damaged/expired food
- Work with Warehouse Supervisor and Program Lead to determine if food goes to the market or is to be stored in storage refrigerator
- Organize food in refrigeration units o Replenish food in the market as required
- Maintain supply of empty boxes
- Keep sorting area clean and tidy
- Maintain a courteous and professional manner with staff and other volunteers
- May be asked to train new Warehouse Assistants
- Occasionally accompany KSM staff to go offsite and pick up donations
Requirements:
- Must be 18+
- Ability to lift 20-30 pounds
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Good multi-tasking skills
- Ability to take direction
- Good problem solving ability
Commitment: Minimum 3 month commitment
Training: Volunteer Training Manual, KSM Orientation, Support from staff
Market (Food Bank) Volunteer
Looking for volunteers 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 at Kerr Street Mission. Open to volunteers 18+.
- Fridays: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Position: Market Volunteer – Various Roles (Store Entry, Store Assistant, Cash)
Supervisor(s): Community Care & Food Logistics Lead
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 at KSM.
Responsibilities:
- Store Entry: Call market numbers, greet clients as they enter the food bank, ensure that the store is not overwhelmed by too many clients shopping at a single time, ensure bags are kept at the front of the store.
- Store Assistant: Assist clients requiring help with their shopping baskets or with bagging, monitor the items in the fridge and ensure proper amount is being fairly given, help clients make informed choices with food availability.
- Cash: Enter items to be purchased on the register while keeping total sale, ensure that vouchers are marked correctly, oversee items leaving the food bank and making sure they are allotted on the vouchers, totalling final sale at end of day and recording sales number.
Requirements:
- Must be 18+
- Must have Criminal Reference Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening
- 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
Kitchen Supervisor - Community Meals
Provide guidance and oversight to volunteer groups who prepare and serve Community Meals to our clients. Open to volunteers aged 18+.
- Mondays: (biweekly): 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Position: Kitchen Supervisor – Community Meals
Supervisor(s): Community Care & Food Logistics Lead
Objective: To provide guidance to volunteer groups that prepare community meals, ensuring they have a positive experience while delivering a meal that is
prepared in accordance with KSM’s food handling practices.
Responsibilities:
- Warmly greet volunteer groups upon your arrival
- Ensure that required supplies are available
- Ensure tables and chairs are set up, and tables are set with cutlery and napkins in advance of
meal time - Ensure groups are following safe food handling practices (use of hairnets, gloves)
- Guide teams through the community meal process, ensuring KSM’s Meal guidelines are being
adhered to - Be available for questions, troubleshoot issues, and ensure teams stay on track, providing
assistance if necessary - Provide oversight during the meal serving process
- Supervise the cleanup process ensuring the items on the KSM Kitchen Checklist are completed,
and ensuring the kitchen and dining hall are left in a clean state - Discuss suitability of leftover food with food bank staff and package or discard, as required
- Ensure kitchen waste bins are emptied and cleared to the appropriate compost, trash or recycling bin located outside of the building
- Identify client issues in the dining hall and engage the KSM staff member on site
- Escalate logistical issues to the KSM staff member on site
Requirements:
- Must be 18+
- Previous kitchen experience
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to lead others and provide direction in a respectful manner
- Good time management and multi-tasking skills
- Excellent problem solving ability
Commitment: Minimum 3 month commitment, one shift per week
Training: Volunteer Training Manual, KSM Orientation, Food Handling Overview, Support from staff
After School Program - Reading Partner
To help support literacy by spending one on one reading time with children in the KSM After School Program.
- Wednesdays: 3:30pm – 5:00 pm
Position: After School Program – Reading Partner
Supervisor: After School Team Lead
Objective: To help support literacy by spending one on one reading time with children in the KSM After School program.
Responsibilities:
- To encourage and sit with children, reading one on one with them
- Positive role modelling
- Create strategies to encourage different levels of reading
- Prepare and set up reading materials
- Document/track child’s level of reading
- Communicate openly with After School staff about concerns/progress of the child
Requirements:
- Must be able to relate appropriately to children
- Must have Criminal Reference Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening
- Immunizations must be up to date (Diptheria/Tetanus/Poliomyelitis/Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
- Two step Tuberculosis skin test done within the last 2 years
Commitment: Minimum 3 month commitment
Training: Read through Volunteer Training Manual: Kerr Street After School Program, Orientation,
Support from After School Team Lead
Front Desk Coverage
To warmly greet people who contact KSM via phone or in person and ensure their request or query is forwarded to the appropriate person. Open to volunteers 18+.
Apply for one or more of the following shifts:
- Wednesday: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm (bi-weekly)
- Friday: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Position: Front Desk Coverage – Various Times
Supervisor: Front Line Intake Support
Objective: To receive and direct all personnel who come in contact via phone or in person with KSM.
Responsibilities:
- Reception & Switchboard Operation
- Warmly greet guests and clients; ensure all visitors, volunteers, and service personnel sign in
- Answer and direct calls, take messages and respond to inquiries
- Provide registration information for all new or prospective clients
- Receive payments and donations, complete receipt paperwork forms
- Briefly assess visitor needs in person and over the phone, determine if/ how KSM can help
- Familiarize yourself with Halton Region and Oakville community and social services, referring
clients, community members, or donors to other organizations when applicable
Requirements:
- Must be 18+
- Strong communication skills, professionalism, organizational abilities
- Compassionate, empathetic, and respectful demeanour
- Ability to think calmly under pressure and respond graciously in stressful or emotional situations
- Compliance with mission and vision of Kerr Street Community Services
Commitment: Minimum 3 month commitment; must be present and on time for hours of relief coverage.
Training: KSM Annual Policy & Procedure Training; Orientation; Support from staff.
Market (Foodbank) Help
Assist clients through the stages of their market experience while providing comfort, dignity and a sense of safety to those utilizing our KSM services. Open to volunteers 18+.
Apply for one or more of the following shifts:
- Wednesday: 9:30 am – 10:30 am
- Thursday: 5:45 pm – 7:45 pm
- Friday: 9:45 am – 12:00 pm
- Saturday: 9:00 am – 11:00 am (2 positions available)
Position: Market Volunteer – Various Roles (Store Entry, Store Assistant, Cash)
Supervisor: Community Care & Food Logistics Lead
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 at KSM.
Responsibilities:
- Store Entry: Call market numbers, greet clients as they enter the food bank, ensure that the store is not overwhelmed by too many clients shopping at a single time, ensure bags are kept at the front of the store.
- Store Assistant: Assist clients requiring help with their shopping baskets or with bagging, monitor the items in the fridge and ensure proper amount is being fairly given, help clients make informed choices with food availability.
- Cash: Enter items to be purchased on the register while keeping total sale, ensure that vouchers are marked correctly, oversee items leaving the food bank and making sure they are allotted on the vouchers, totalling final sale at end of day and recording sales number.
Requirements:
- Must be 18+
- Must have Criminal Reference Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening
- 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.
Restocking Assistant
Help us sort donations, organize the food items in our warehouse and keep our food bank shelves fully stocked and organized. Open to volunteers 18+.
Apply for one or more of the following shifts:
- Monday: 8:30 am – 10:30 am
- Wednesday: 8:30 am – 10:30 am
- Thursday: 8:30 am – 10:30 am (2 positions available)
Position: Restocking Assistant
Supervisor: Food Logistics Lead
Objective: To ensure food is received, sorted, packaged and ready for distribution to clients.
Responsibilities:
- Greet food donors, weigh donation and record entry as needed
- Sort donations into the established categories and store in the appropriate location as directed by the Food Logistics Lead
- Check for damaged/expired food and manage according to KSMs procedures
- Restock the market shelves as needed
- Organize food in refrigeration units
- Follow KSM’s inventory management procedures
- Maintain supply of empty boxes, recycling as necessary
- Keep sorting area clean and tidy
- Maintain a courteous and professional manner with staff and other volunteers
Requirements:
- Must be 18+
- Ability to lift 20-30 pounds
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Good multi-tasking skills
- Ability to take direction
- Good problem solving ability
Commitment: Minimum 3 month commitment
Training: Volunteer Training Manual, KSM Orientation, Support from staff
After School Program - Snack Volunteer
Prepare and serve nutritious snacks to the children in the KSM After School Program in accordance with the Canada Food Guide and Safe Food Handling Procedures. Open to volunteers 18+.
- Monday: 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Position: After School Program – Snack Volunteer
Supervisor: After School Team Lead
Objective: To prepare and serve nutritious snacks to the children in the KSM After School Program in accordance with the Canada Food Guide and safe food handling procedures.
Responsibilities:
- Prepare snack using ingredients provided by KSM
- Interact positively with children
- Set up food service area prior to children’s arrival (cups, plates, cutlery, scrape bins etc.)
- Follow safe food handling practices during food preparation & serving
- Serve snack to 30 children
- Clean up dining area and kitchen in accordance with KSM guidelines
Requirements:
- Must be 18+
- Must be able to relate appropriately to children
- Must exhibit positive role modeling
- Must have Criminal Reference Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening
- Immunizations must be up to date (Diptheria/Tetanus/Poliomyelitis/Measles, Mumps, Rubella
- Two step Tuberculosis skin test done within the last 2 years
- Safe Food Handling certification is recommended but not required
Commitment: Minimum 3 month commitment
Training: Review Volunteer Training Manual: Kerr Street After School Program, Orientation, Support from After School Team Lead
Cobs Bread Delivery Program
Looking for volunteer pairs to help us deliver a nightly shipment of fresh bread to KSM in partnership with Cobs Lakeshore. Open to volunteers 18+ or students aged 14-17 if accompanied by an adult.
- Multiple days available: 1 hour per week, typically between 6:00pm and 8:00 pm
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
Community Care & Food Logistics - Administrative Assistant
Provide administrative assistance to our Community Care and Food Logistics Leader. Open to volunteers 18+.
- Flexible schedule with two 2-3 hour shifts per week (2 positions available)
Position: Administrative Assistant – Community Care and Food Logistics, Two 2-3 hours shifts per week (2 positions available)
Supervisor(s): Community Care & Food Logistics Lead
Objective: To provide general office support to the Community Care and Food Logistics Lead.
Responsibilities:
- Assist in creating an Excel database
- Perform accurate and timely data entry
- Track donations of physical goods (i.e. food)
- Assist with thanking donors
- Filing and other general administrative support
Requirements:
- Must be 18+
- Solid working knowledge of MS Office including Excel
- Excellent organizational skills
- Attention to detail
- Ability to take direction and work independently
- Ability to multi-task
- Good communication skills
- Good interpersonal skills and pleasant telephone manner
Commitment: Minimum 3 month commitment, two 2-3 hour shifts per week
Training: Volunteer Training Manual, KSM Orientation, Support from staff
Are you ready to volunteer at KSM?
for more information about how you can get involved.
