Volunteers perform many of the functions that keep our soup kitchen operating:
Most kitchen volunteers work one weekday a month from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. assisting with food preparation, service and clean-up. Many choose to join an existing team, while others prefer to work occasionally, or on a call-in basis. We try to accommodate our volunteers' schedules to ensure that volunteering with us is not only pleasurable, but convenient.
Offering experience and expertise in many ways, volunteers are the heart and soul of the gathering place. Have a look at our Volunteer Application form to see where you might fit in.
A team of six individuals is required on a daily basis for meal preparation and serving. They are joined by a regular volunteer dishwasher.
Students aged 16 and over may perform their 40 hours community service at the gathering place; however, spaces are limited. Please contact the office during office hours to see if there is a vacancy. Students must fill out our Student Volunteer Application form.
Print out our Volunteer Application Form (students, please use our Student Volunteer Application Form), fill it out, and bring it to us during office hours. If you wish to help with the garden, use the garden form instead of the regular one. We look forward to meeting you.
Teams are made up of groups of 6 to 12 people, with 6 at a time working in the kitchen, once a month. This allows a team to rotate its members, offering replacements when someone is on holiday, ill or otherwise busy. The team's telephone captain helps with scheduling the volunteers (a good job for someone who is housebound!).
If you are interested in joining a team or creating a new team, we would be delighted to hear from you. Contact us by email, or phone during office hours.
Individual volunteers are people who do not want the commitment of joining a team, and are willing to work on a "call-in" basis. In particular, post-secondary students who have time to fill in their schedules during the school year may find it rewarding to volunteer as individuals, although we welcome everyone.
We try to accommodate different abilities and schedules. If you’re not sure how you can help, call the office and we can discuss it.
Corporate groups who want to volunteer on an ad hoc basis are welcome. Please call the office and we will be happy to work with you to schedule a suitable date.
All volunteers are required to attend one of our half day training sessions after starting work at the gathering place. These sessions are usually offered twice each year and take place on a weekday afternoon. Guest speakers from the Public Health Unit, Canadian Mental Health Association and North Bay Police Services provide the information volunteers need to safely enjoy their experience at our soup kitchen.