Volunteer work in Toronto

[DarbyCrash]

I'm looking to do some volunteer work...preferably with a homeless shelter or soup Kitchen in Toronto. I work 5 days a week and my weeknights are pretty much never free so mostly I'd only be available on the weekend. I'm not even sure where to look or who to contact so if anyone has any suggestions that would be great.

thanks.

[aalui]

im also looking for volunteer work, i tried applying online for salvation army but they never called me

[molala]

check out this website, it has many volunteer job postings and list of agency that accepts volunteer:

http://www.volunteertoronto.ca/Default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

you have a specific population of interest in mind?

[hoob]

check out this website, it has many volunteer job postings and list of agency that accepts volunteer:

http://www.volunteertoronto.ca/Default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

you have a specific population of interest in mind?

Just randomly surfing that site I came across something that to me sounds really interesting, I can probably do well, and doesn't involve being a "people person" which I am in no denial about being not. Thanks, I might actually get of my couch and to something for The Greater Good!

[DarbyCrash]

check out this website, it has many volunteer job postings and list of agency that accepts volunteer:

http://www.volunteertoronto.ca/Default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

you have a specific population of interest in mind?

yeah I actually would LIKE to specifically target the homeless...I was at Nuit Blanche on Saturday and it felt like every 30 seconds I was walking over or around a homeless person. My friend said it shouldn't be this way since there are plenty of shelters in the area. So that kind of inspired me to check out what's out there and see if I can be of assistance.

Thanks for the website and if you have any other leads please let me know!

[molala]

yeah I actually would LIKE to specifically target the homeless...I was at Nuit Blanche on Saturday and it felt like every 30 seconds I was walking over or around a homeless person. My friend said it shouldn't be this way since there are plenty of shelters in the area. So that kind of inspired me to check out what's out there and see if I can be of assistance.

Thanks for the website and if you have any other leads please let me know!

No a problem. Many homeless rather live on the street than shelters rain or shine. Given shelters environment are horrible (dirty, fleas, etc.) there are also a lot of thefts.

check my post # 20 in this (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=635787&page=2&highlight=homeless) thread...then you'll know why there are so many homeless...

[Muncher]

Check out

www.charityvillage.com
www.idealist.org

Also this page has a list of organisations plus their websites that help the homeless

http://www.crossroads.ca/homeless/host.php

[chococrazy]

No a problem. Many homeless rather live on the street than shelters rain or shine. Given shelters environment are horrible (dirty, fleas, etc.) there are also a lot of thefts.

check my post # 20 in this (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=635787&page=2&highlight=homeless) thread...then you'll know why there are so many homeless...

Not to mention assaults. I've been inside a shelter, and it was not a pretty sight.

If I fell from where I am today, and if I was a guy, I would probably not go to a shelter and take my chances on the street. I've been told the women's shelters are better, but I've never been inside of one so I can't confirm that.

[molala]

Not to mention assaults. I've been inside a shelter, and it was not a pretty sight.

If I fell from where I am today, and if I was a guy, I would probably not go to a shelter and take my chances on the street. I've been told the women's shelters are better, but I've never been inside of one so I can't confirm that.

Back in school, one my of classmates did her placement at a women's shelter...apparently she realli liked it...but it doesn't sounds too great...anyways, she told me a lot of the residents would cut themselves to bleed :eek: and there are many drugs and other substance problems, lots of depressed abused women... they might be better than men's in terms of hygiene and stuff...but i would rather live on the street..

[molala]

o..i almost forgot these guys

http://www.211toronto.ca/splash.jsp

list of all the social services in toronto

[BornRuff]

yeah I actually would LIKE to specifically target the homeless...I was at Nuit Blanche on Saturday and it felt like every 30 seconds I was walking over or around a homeless person. My friend said it shouldn't be this way since there are plenty of shelters in the area. So that kind of inspired me to check out what's out there and see if I can be of assistance.

Thanks for the website and if you have any other leads please let me know!

Well, if it makes you feel any better, the number of homeless people out on Nuit Blance was not representative of how many homeless people sleep on the street on a typical night. I think many of them decided that because there were going to be so many people out that night it would be a huge night for collecting change from people.

These kind of nights are esspecially good for them because many of the patrons of Nuit Blanche are not downtown regulars. People who are downtown regularly or live there pass the same homeless people so much, and realize pretty quick that they can not afford to give to every person they see, so they eventually stop giving change. We become de-sensitized to it. People who live out in the burbs and come in to toronto very rarely are more likely to take notice of them and give money because they have not been de-sensitized like the rest of us. Art events like this also attract a very liberal crowd, so people there are more likely to give change for that reason too.

So on Nuit blanche, you probably saw every single homeless person or begger in the GTA out that night, even a good number who would have gone to a shelter if it had been a different night. Poverty is certinaly a big problem so it would be great for you to help out, but make sure you understand what you are seeing.