Volunteer
Train in the quiet months. Stand up when it counts
Most of our people are volunteers: retired teachers, nursing students, grain farmers, electricians. We train you for free and call when a shelter needs you.
Six ways to help
Find your role
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Shelter support
Sign people in, set up cots, serve meals and keep the shelter calm and clean.
- Time:
- Shifts of 4 to 8 hours
- Training:
- 6-hour shelter course
-
Warehouse crew
Pack kits, check trailers and load trucks before and during a response.
- Time:
- Weekday or Saturday mornings
- Training:
- 2-hour safety walk-through
-
Community kitchen
Cook and serve hot meals with our partner kitchens during a response.
- Time:
- Shifts of 3 to 5 hours
- Training:
- Food safety basics
-
Recovery visitor
Visit or call families in recovery, under a caseworker's guidance.
- Time:
- A few hours a week
- Training:
- Screening and 2-day course
-
Trades crew
Licensed and experienced trades lead repairs with volunteer helpers.
- Time:
- Weekends during a rebuild
- Training:
- Licence check and site safety
-
Office and phones
Answer the donor line, enter data and help with mailings.
- Time:
- Flexible, some remote
- Training:
- 1-hour orientation
Free training
Nobody starts alone
Every spring and fall we run free courses in all four regions, in person and online. You learn how a shelter works, basic first aid, how to listen to someone who has lost a lot, and how to look after yourself.
- Shelter operations, 6 hours
- First aid and CPR, 1 day
- Psychological first aid, 4 hours
- Safe lifting and warehouse safety, 2 hours
From sign-up to first shift
-
Apply
Tell us your region, the roles you like and when you are free. It takes five minutes.
-
Short call
A volunteer lead calls to answer questions and find the right fit.
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Checks
Roles that work closely with vulnerable people need a background check. We cover the cost.
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Train
Free training in spring and fall, in person or online.
-
First shift
You start with an experienced buddy. Nobody is thrown in alone.
Apply
Tell us a little about you
Five minutes, no commitment yet. A volunteer lead calls within a week to talk it through.
Questions first? volunteer@shelterbelt.example
Most roles are for people 18 and over. Teens aged 15 to 17 can join warehouse shifts with a parent or guardian's consent.
Thanks, friend.
This is a demo, so nothing was sent. On a real site, a volunteer lead would call you within a week.
Give where it helps most
Can't volunteer right now? Give instead.
Most of our speed is decided months ahead, on a warehouse shelf. A gift today keeps a trailer packed for the next family who needs it.
Prefer a steady gift? See monthly giving. Every gift gets a receipt.