Fall is a great time to make new friends, have new experiences, and help those in need. One amazing way of doing this is through volunteering.
Research shows the benefits of volunteering which boosts both our mental and physical health. Some of the benefits are:
- Volunteering helps communities—volunteers are the backbone of many organizations
- Volunteering builds social impact in communities—volunteering can be an opportunity to learn about and help improve community issues
- Volunteering connects you to other people—volunteering helps us make new friends and makes us feel a sense of achievement from helping others
- Volunteering is good for mental health—volunteering helps beat depression, anxiety and feelings of social isolation
- Volunteering is good for physical health—volunteering can reduce stressors that cause heart disease, high blood pressure, chronic pain and other illnesses
- Volunteering helps build skills—if you are considering a new career, or advancement in your current one, volunteering is a great way to learn new skills
If you are interested in volunteering, Covenant House Vancouver (CHV) is a great way to meet new people, support those in need, and it’s a great way to learn new skills.
Here are some of the ways that volunteers can support CHV:
- Help the Food Services Team
- Assist with our art therapy sessions
- Stock and organize our clothing room, where youth can pick out their own clothes, jackets, and shoes
- Mentor youth and plan youth outings
- Spread the word when we have 50/50 Raffles and other contests
- Assist in setting up spaces for events and other initiatives
- Help pack backpacks for our Hope for the Holidays campaign
The process of becoming a volunteer at CHV is very similar to becoming an employee, with a series of chats, interviews and background checks. That’s not just to safeguard the youth we serve, but also to make sure we really understand who our volunteers are and what opportunities could best fit them.
Why volunteer at CHV? A volunteer, who has been with CHV for over 20 years, had this to say: “It’s the youth. It’s very enjoyable spending time with them. The services that CHV provides make a big difference in the lives of the youth. I’ve seen this on outings. Working with youth has given me perspective about people and how their circumstances can really shape their experiences in life. And that a lot of barriers that people face can be lessened with the support that an organization like Covenant House provides.”
Here are some opportunities currently listed on our Volunteer with Us page:
Tutoring: Currently, the most popular subjects that we are seeking one-to-one tutors for are math and English. We are open to other subjects and would love to hear how you could support a youth with your subject of expertise
Food Services Volunteer: The Food Services department serves 3 meals per day to youth. We are looking for individuals who can assist with food preparation and general kitchen operations
CSS Server: Our Drop-In Centre is open 365 days a year and provides a space for Vancouver youth to come and take a hot shower, have a warm meal, and use other services. We are recruiting volunteers who can assist with serving meals during service hours. No experience required. Flexible schedule
Excursion Leaders: On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, excursion leader volunteers take youth to various activities around Vancouver. No experience necessary, but individuals who apply should be outgoing and comfortable with leading a group.
Clothing Room Assistant: Our Drop-In Centre has a clothing room that youth can access to find items they may need. We are looking for a volunteer who can chaperone this space and assist youth with any clothing room needs they may have. No experience necessary
Corporate and Community Group Volunteering: The volunteering opportunities we offer groups vary throughout the year, from wrapping presents during the holidays, to sorting clothing inventory, to handwritten notes to our generous donors.
If you don’t see anything that interests you on our volunteer page, if you have any questions, or if you are a student who would like to find learn more about opportunities at CHV, please email our volunteer team at volunteer@covenanthousebc.org.
Thank you to everyone who supports vulnerable youth in our community.