Opportunity Details

An amazing group of volunteers (ideal number around 6) needed to help put together 50 ‘Back to School’ kits for youth at Covenant House as they get ready for the start of the new academic year.

At Covenant House Vancouver , we serve youth ages 16-24 experiencing homelessness. Our ‘one size fits one’ approach means that we understand each individual is at a different stage in their own journey, and has their own specific ambitions and goals. Some of the youth are focusing on academic goals and we are here to encourage them however we can, from our amazing volunteer tutors who specialize in different subjects, to providing the practical supplies necessary to set our youth up for success. That is where the ‘Back to School’ kits come in, by putting together supplies of stationery and workbooks you’re helping to ensure our community can kick off the coming academic year with everything they need to focus on achieving their goals!

Budget request is for the supplies needed for the 50 kits which includes stationary such as pens, post-its, calculators, markers, journals, and more (we have an amazon wishlist if helpful), and is around $1500.

Available Shifts

Shift Name	Signup Max	Start	End
Building Back to School Kits for Youth	8	n/a	n/a

Opportunity Details

Raphael House's mission is to help low-income families and families experiencing homelessness strengthen family bonds by achieving stable housing and financial independence. Our outcomes speak for themselves, last year we provided shelter to 39 families (116 individuals). Of the 22 exiting families, 18 (82%) moved into long-term stable housing. We also served 186 unduplicated families (707 individuals) through our aftercare Bridge Program, with 95% reporting remaining stably housed.

Ten BMO volunteers in a two-hour shift equal 20 staff hours and helps us achieve our mission by keeping our shelter organized, welcoming, and fully supplied while freeing staff to focus on case management and other shelter and program needs. Your time shows families their community cares.

Volunteer day flow -

• 30-minute (optional) - guided tour of our Residential Shelter so you can see where families live and learn how our Bridge Program supports them after move-out.

• 2 hours of the day’s highest-priority tasks. Final assignments are set that morning, but may include:   
– Deep-cleaning the toddler room, library, or other common areas   
- Assembling lunch kits
– Sorting and organizing donated toys, clothing, toiletries, and household items
– Wrapping birthday gifts and assembling supply or support kits

WAIVERS AND DRESS CODE:
All volunteers must complete a waiver, which will be provided before the volunteer day
Comfortable clothing is recommended for moving around and carrying items. Clothing should be appropriate for a family-friendly environment

Budget request – $1,500 (estimated)

Birthday gift wrapping and healthy snack-lunch kit supplies (approximately 100 kits with healthy snacks assortment and juice) -
Nutritious grab-and-go meals ease food insecurity for parents juggling jobs, school, and limited kitchen access. Volunteers will assemble the kits and tuck in notes of encouragement, turning a routine snack into a moment of care.

Cleaning and sanitation supplies -
A clean, organized environment is core to trauma-informed care. Disinfecting wipes, eco-friendly sprays, and fresh sponges safeguard children’s health, lift the workload from our small facilities team, and let case managers focus on housing stability.

Prices for bulk food and cleaning products shift quickly and sometime key items are only available in a slightly larger pack through our vendor so we would also like to include a modest contingency buffer.

Covering these costs up front means BMO volunteers arrive to fully stocked workstations, spend their time on high-impact tasks, and leave knowing every dollar directly supported shelter families.

Opportunity Details

The grounds of the Veterans' Village are in need of maintenance/clean up as well as a platform for the gazebo used by the Veterans as a meeting place.
This will be a one day event during BMO Days of Impact 2025.
The actual date is TBD.
Hands on-Various unskilled labor maintenance projects at the Edmonton Veterans' Village
Yard maintenance including mulch replacement throughout Village, sod removal, gravel placement, landscape fabric (will be ordered and onsite)tER
Building a base for existing gazebo-pressure treated lumber, screws (tools required)
Volunteers required for manual unskilled labor,
Expectations for volunteers: experience and/or understanding of Veteran culture, mental health and addiction challenges.
Budget Request: $2000CDN for materials, removal of debris

Opportunity Details

Mission and Vision:
Founded in 1982, Blue Door’s mission is to enable housing stability by delivering innovative housing, health, and employment solutions that prevent and end homelessness. Our vision is a Canada where everyone has access to safe, dignified housing.

Project Details:
Blue Door is in the final stages of preparing its 2024 Annual Impact Report, a vital tool for engaging and stewarding our donors, partners, and community stakeholders. We are reaching out to BMO with an opportunity for employees to support this important project by helping assemble and prepare mailer packages that will be sent to key supporters of Blue Door. This hands-on volunteer activity plays a crucial role in sharing the impact of their support and strengthening our community relationships.

Volunteer Activity Details
Blue Door is asking for 4 volunteers to support with our 2024 Annual Report Mailer. Volunteers will support the assembly of Blue Door’s 2024 Annual Impact Report Mailer, an essential stewardship project that shares the tangible impact of our donors’ and supporters’ contributions. This in-person volunteer activity involves preparing, organizing, and packaging mailers that will be distributed to stakeholders across our community. Volunteers will play an important role in ensuring that each package is prepared with care and attention to detail, helping Blue Door express gratitude and maintain meaningful connections with our supporters.

Roles and Responsibilities:
- Folding printed reports
- Stuffing envelopes with reports and letters
- Applying mailing labels and stamps
- Organizing completed mailers for courier or Canada Post delivery
- Assisting with light workspace cleanup after the task is complete

Appropriate Attire:
- Comfortable, casual clothing
- Closed-toe shoes are recommended for safety and comfort
- No special safety equipment is required

Parking and Accessibility:
Free parking is available onsite at 212 Earl Stewart Drive, Unit 3, Aurora, ON L4G 6V7.The building is fully accessible, including barrier-free entrances and accessible washrooms.

Materials, Training or Tools Volunteers Need to Supply:
None, all materials, trainings and tools, including envelopes, labels, stamps, pens, tape, and printed reports, will be provided by Blue Door. Volunteers are only asked to bring their enthusiasm and attention to detail.

Budget Request: $1,500
- Staff Time (planning, supervision, coordination): $600
- Printing, Paper, Envelopes, Labels, and Postage: $500
- Refreshments and Snacks for Volunteers: $150
- Volunteer Appreciation (thank-you cards, small tokens): $150
- Miscellaneous Supplies (tape, signage, extra materials): $100

Available Shifts

Shift Name	Signup Max	Start	End
Annual Report Packaging	4	n/a	n/a

Opportunity Details

Fife House invites BMO employees to volunteer to help beautify our Sorauren Residence - a supportive housing program specifically for vulnerable women who are living with HIV, and have experienced/are escaping gender-based violence.

Sorauren Residence is one of Fife House's newest housing program. However, it is located in an aging detached house and requires some renovation and care in order to make it a more welcoming and beautiful residence for the women who call it home. The front lawn and the back garden is overrun with weeds. We require assistance with weeding the front lawn and back garden and planting it up with local plants and flowers, and to construct a raised garden bed for vegetables.

Volunteers would assist with the following activities:
(1) Weeding front and back gardens, and remediating soil
(2) Planting the front and back gardens with local plants and flowers
(3) Building a pre-fab raised garden bed, and putting in some hard landscaping for the back garden

Due to a myriad of reasons often connected to their HIV and health status, most of our residents/clients are not employed and/or living on ODSP. As such, many are living at or below the poverty line. Some are estranged from families. Food insecurity, isolation, and mental wellness are challenging issues they have to face on a daily basis. Programs and services provided by Fife House are aimed at helping residents to mitigate these issues.

By helping to weed and replant the front and back gardens at Sorauren Residence, BMO employees will help make the residence a more beautiful, welcoming place for residents to call home with dignity.

Note: Volunteer activities involve physical and/or outdoor tasks, and may also require some lifting. Unfortunately, these activities are limited in terms of accessibility.
Budget Request:

We would like to request funding (approximately $1500) to acquire materials to rent the equipment and purchase supplies for the activity (e.g. lawnmower, gloves, kneepads, plants and flowers, soil, fertilizer, raised garden bed structure, water, snacks etc).

Available Shifts

Shift Name	Signup Max	Start	End
General	8	n/a	n/a

Opportunity Details

Fife House invites BMO employees to volunteer to help refresh the front entrance and back porch at our Sorauren Residence - a supportive housing program specifically for vulnerable women who are living with HIV, and have experienced/are escaping gender-based violence.

Sorauren Residence is one of Fife House's newest housing program. However, it is located in an aging detached house and requires some renovation and care in order to make it a more welcoming and beautiful residence for the women who call it home. The paint on the front porch has largely chipped away, and the front porch is a barren concrete wasteland. We require assistance to refinish and repaint both the front porch, the concrete back patio/porch and guardrail, so that the building can be a house which residents can feel proud living at, and which will contribute to the beauty of the neighbourhood.

Volunteers would assist with the following activities:
(1) Sanding down and repainting the front porch and door
(2) Sanding down and repainting the guardrail at the back patio/porch
(3) Painting the concrete back patio/porch floor and wall

Due to a myriad of reasons often connected to their HIV and health status, most of our residents/clients are not employed and/or living on ODSP. As such, many are living at or below the poverty line. Some are estranged from families. Food insecurity, isolation, and mental wellness are challenging issues they have to face on a daily basis. Programs and services provided by Fife House are aimed at helping residents to mitigate these issues.

By helping to refinish the front and back porches at Denison Residence, BMO employees will help make the residence a more beautiful, welcoming place for residents to call home with dignity.

Note: Volunteer activities involve physical and/or outdoor tasks, and may also require some lifting. Unfortunately, these activities are limited in terms of accessibility.
Budget Request:

We would like to request funding (approximately $1200) to acquire materials to rent the equipment and purchase supplies for the activity (e.g. sanding machine and sanding paper, gloves, wood stain/paint, paintbrushes, canvas, gloves, water, snacks etc).

Available Shifts

Shift Name	Signup Max	Start	End
General	10	n/a	n/a

Opportunity Details

Fife House invites BMO employees to volunteer to help refresh the entrance and front garden of our Denison Residence - a supportive housing program for vulnerable people living with HIV. It has been a number of years since the front porch was last refinished and the front garden is overrun with weeds. We require assistance to refinish the front porch and weed and plant the front garden with some flowers/plants in order to make the front of the building a beautiful entry way into the house which residents can feel proud of, and which will contribute to the beauty of the neighbourhood.

Volunteers would assist with the following activities:
(1) Sanding down the front porch and door in order to prepare it for staining/painting
(2) Staining/painting the front porch and dooor
(3) Remove weeds, remediate soil and plant flowers in our front garden

Due to a myriad of reasons often connected to their HIV and health status, most of our residents/clients are not employed and/or living on ODSP. As such, many are living at or below the poverty line. Some are estranged from families. Food insecurity, isolation, and mental wellness are challenging issues they have to face on a daily basis. Programs and services provided by Fife House are aimed at helping residents to mitigate these issues.

By helping to refinish the front porch and tidying up and planting the front garden at Denison Residence, BMO employees will help make the residence a more beautiful, welcoming place for residents to call home with dignity.

Note: Volunteer activities involve physical and/or outdoor tasks, and may also require some lifting. Unfortunately, these activities are limited in terms of accessibility.

Budget Request:
We would like to request funding (approximately $1300) to acquire materials to rent the equipment and purchase supplies for the activity (e.g. sanding machine and sanding paper, gloves, wood stain/paint, paintbrushes, canvas, gloves, gardening equipment, aprons, plants, flowers, soil, water, snacks etc).

Available Shifts

Shift Name	Signup Max	Start	End
General	7	n/a	n/a

Opportunity Details

Fife House invites BMO employees to volunteer to help refinish the wooden accessibility ramp to our Denison Residence - a supportive housing program for vulnerable people living with HIV. It has been a number of years since the ramp was last refinished. In order to extend the lifespan of this very important structure, we require assistance to re-sand and refinish/repaint the ramp. Volunteers will also help plant some flowers and vegetables in our back garden.

Volunteers would assist with the following activities:
(1) Sanding down the ramp in order to prepare for it for staining/painting
(2) Staining/painting the ramp
(3) Remediate soil and plant flowers/vegetables in our raised garden bed and pots

Due to a myriad of reasons often connected to their HIV and health status, most of our residents/clients are not employed and/or living on ODSP. As such, many are living at or below the poverty line. Some are estranged from families. Food insecurity, isolation, and mental wellness are challenging issues they have to face on a daily basis. Programs and services provided by Fife House are aimed at helping residents to mitigate these issues.

By helping to refinish the ramp at Denison Residence, BMO employees will help extend the lifespan of the ramp, and ensure that the residence remains accessible for our clients and visitors. And by helping to plant our garden bed and flower pots with vegetables and flowers, it helps beautify the space for our residents and provide them with access to some vegetables and herbs to help with their food insecurity.

Note: Volunteer activities involve physical and/or outdoor tasks, and may also require some lifting. Unfortunately, these activities are limited in terms of accessibility.

Budget Request:
We would like to request funding (approximately $1300) to acquire materials to rent the equipment and purchase supplies for the activity (e.g. sanding machine and sanding paper, gloves, wood stain/paint, paintbrushes, canvas, gloves, aprons, water, snacks etc).

Available Shifts

Shift Name	Signup Max	Start	End
Shift 1: Sand and prep	7	n/a	n/a
Shift: Stain/paint and finish ramp, and plant raised garden bed & pots	6	n/a	n/a

Opportunity Details

Fife House's Huntley Residence is a transitional housing program for vulnerable community members who are living with HIV/AIDS, and who have experienced chronic homelessness and housing insecurity.

Fife House invites BMO employees to volunteer to help create a tranquil oasis for residents at our Huntley Residence, as well as help beautify the building by planting up flowers and plants in container pots and decorating our back patio - a private communal space for our residents - and to help plant up the front garden of our building . Having a beautiful and welcoming back patio that is planted up with flowers, plants and lights will enable our clients to have a quiet place to enjoy the outdoors - which is important for their mental health and well-being. Also, by planting up the front garden, BMO employees will help make the residence a beautiful place they can temporarily call home with pride and dignity, and a garden that can also be enjoyed by our neighbours.

Volunteers would assist with one or both of the following activities:
(1) Cleaning the back patio, planting flowers and plants in containers/pots, build a pre-fabricated bench, and put up string lights
(2) Weeding the front garden, remediating the soil, and putting in fresh new plants and flowers.

Due to a myriad of reasons often connected to their HIV and health status, most of our residents/clients are not employed and/or living on ODSP. As such, many are living at or below the poverty line. Some are estranged from families. Food insecurity, isolation, and mental wellness are challenging issues they have to face on a daily basis. Programs and services provided by Fife House are aimed at helping residents to mitigate these issues.

Note: This volunteer activity will require lifting and medium-intensity manual labour (e.g. digging, planting).

Budget request: We would like to request funding support of approximately $1500 to cover the costs of purchasing materials for the volunteer activity (e.g. soil, flowers and plants, pots, gloves, water, snacks, lights, bench, gardening tools).

Available Shifts

Shift Name	Signup Max	Start	End
General	10	n/a	n/a

Opportunity Details

Fife House invites BMO employees to volunteer to help refresh our supportive housing program by painting the main entry and exit doors, as well as the doors to the individual living quarters (i.e. rooms) at our Huntley Residence. It has been a few years since the doors were last painted and they are in need of a refresh. By painting these doors, it will help create a more lively and welcoming living space for our residents at Huntley - who are made up of vulnerable community members who are living with HIV. This will also contribute to helping boost their mental well-being. Each resident will be offered a choice of several different colours which they would like their doors painted to reflect their personality and preference.

Volunteers would assist with one or both of the following activities:
(1) Preparing main and back entrance doors, as well as doors to individual bedrooms/living units, for painting (i.e. sanding doors down)
(2) Painting the doors after they have been prepared.

Due to a myriad of reasons often connected to their HIV and health status, most of our residents/clients are not employed and/or living on ODSP. As such, many are living at or below the poverty line. Some are estranged from families. Food insecurity, isolation, and mental wellness are challenging issues they have to face on a daily basis. Programs and services provided by Fife House are aimed at helping residents to mitigate these issues.

By helping to repaint the doors, BMO employees will help make the shelter a welcoming, beautiful place they can temporarily call home with pride and dignity.

Note: Volunteer activities involve physical and/or outdoor tasks, and may also require some lifting. Unfortunately, these activities are limited in terms of accessibility.

Budget Request:
We would like to request funding (approximately $1200) to acquire materials to paint 30 doors as part of the volunteer sessions (e.g. paint, paintbrushes, canvas, gloves, aprons, etc).

Available Shifts

Shift Name	Signup Max	Start	End
General	8	n/a	n/a