Volunteers

The services offered by The HOPE Centre are given by a dedicated core of staff and volunteers. These Volunteers include people of all ages who are trained while working in one of the many programs.

There is always a need for caring volunteers to work for the diverse programs that The HOPE Centre offers. Volunteer work here can be "very rewarding, especially since people at The HOPE Centre are able to provide help at the grassroots level."

This grass roots approach to community development has been the cornerstone of The HOPE Centre's success in reaching out and serving the citizens of Welland and its surrounding area.

Many of the volunteers who help keep our ‘HOPE’ up and running are current or past clients who have benefited from what they have learned and participated in here. We believe this speaks volumes about The HOPE Centre as a community resource and their contributions positively reinforce our feeling of family. Not all clients can involve themselves in structured programs, yet they have found a place here where they can begin to get emotionally, mentally, and spiritually grounded. The process of self-empowerment has already begun for them – they CHOSE to enter our doors.

We require all volunteers (except for students placed through an educational institution) to provide us with a "Criminal Reference Check". This information ensures that your volunteer activities do not place you or The Hope Centre in a vulnerable situation. Please note that you will be responsible for the payment of the Criminal Reference Check. All information seen and recorded by the Volunteer Coordinator will be confidential and kept in a secured area. (A criminal record may not necessarily deter us from accepting you as a volunteer)

At the Hope Centre:

• Reception (answers phone calls, helps with intake form, sends faxes, makes photocopies, etc.)
• Food preparation (helps with lunch time meals)
• Serving and Clean-up (Helps to serve meals, clean up and tidy dining room and kitchen)
• Hope Food Bank (stocks shelves, inventory of food donations, fills requests for food, etc.)
• Repair and Maintenance (anything related to the up-keep of The Hope Centre)
• Custodial Services (helps to clean floors, counters, outdoor clean up, etc.)
• Computer Support (helps with intakes, repairs computers, maintain website, etc.)
• Office support (general office duties)
• Language Support (translation of documents and interviews with clients)
• Seasonal Programs: (Coats for Kids & Families, Registration for Christmas Hampers, sorting and packing Christmas toys and presents, etc.)

At the Hope House:

• To be a volunteer at The Hope House, you need to have some social service education and experience

In the Community (Projects outside The Hope Centre and Hope House) - only when required

• Food Drives
• Clothes Drive
• Awareness Campaigns
• Fundraising Events (Golf for Hope Tournament, BBQ, Euchre Tournament, Gala for Gals, National Hunger Awareness events, Raising the Roof Toque Campaign, community concerts, rose festival parade, etc.
• Transportation (only those with a valid driver licence and no driving convictions)

Please Volunteer and help make our community proud and compassionate