Join our mission

Become a vital part of CareAVan's mission to bring safe, trauma-informed care directly to homeless and substance-using youth in North York, Ontario. Your compassion and dedication can make a real difference. Apply to volunteer today!

Ways to contribute

We welcome volunteers who want to support CareAVan’s mission. Here are some of the roles we hope to fill:

  1. Outreach Support Volunteers: Helping distribute snacks, hygiene kits, harm-reduction supplies, and comfort items while creating a friendly, welcoming presence.
  2. Youth Engagement Volunteers: Supporting group activities, art projects, games, or conversation spaces that help youth feel comfortable and connected.
  3. Logistics & Setup Volunteers: Assisting with preparing the van, organizing supplies, restocking toolkits, and helping ensure the mobile space stays clean and safe.
  4. Community Event Volunteers: Representing CareAVan at events, supporting education and awareness booths, and helping build connections with community partners.
  5. Administrative & Fundraising Volunteers: Helping with tasks like donation drives, outreach emails, social media updates, or organizing fundraisers that support van operations.
  6. Skills-Based Volunteers: Bringing specialized skills such as art, music, language support, cultural knowledge, or peer mentorship that can enrich youth programming.

What we're looking for

While no specific experience is required, certain skills and qualities are highly valued:

  1. Compassionate, Non-Judgmental Communication: Volunteers who can listen with empathy and kindness make youth feel safe, respected, and welcomed.
  2. Experience Supporting Youth: Any background in youth programs, mentorship, camps, shelters, or school clubs helps volunteers connect more easily with young people.
  3. Understanding of Trauma-Informed Practice: Knowing how to approach conversations gently and respectfully is extremely valuable in creating a supportive environment.
  4. Comfort Working With Diverse Communities: Volunteers who are culturally aware and inclusive help CareAVan remain safe and welcoming for all youth.
  5. Organizational & Teamwork Skills: Helping restock supplies, prepare kits, and support van operations works best with volunteers who are reliable and collaborative.
  6. Adaptability in Mobile Outreach Settings: CareAVan may serve youth in different locations or changing conditions, so flexible volunteers thrive.
  7. Interest in Harm-Reduction Principles: Volunteers don’t need advanced training, but an openness to learning harm-reduction basics is helpful.
  8. Creative or Practical Skills: Art, music, crafting, language knowledge, games, or peer mentorship skills can help youth feel connected and engaged.
  9. Event or Fundraising Experience (Optional): Volunteers who can assist with donation drives, outreach events, or community engagement also strengthen the program.

Why volunteer with us?

People choose to volunteer with CareAVan because they want to make a real difference in the lives of youth who are often unseen or underserved. Many are motivated by a deep belief in compassion, equity, and harm-reduction, and they want to be part of a team that meets young people with dignity rather than judgment. Volunteers are drawn to the chance to create genuine human connection offering warmth, safety, and support to youth experiencing homelessness or struggling with substance use.

They also appreciate that CareAVan is innovative and hands-on: instead of waiting for youth to find help, we bring care directly to them. This direct, meaningful impact inspires volunteers who want their time and energy to matter. Some are motivated by personal experiences, others by professional interest in social work or mental health, and many simply want to be part of a community that believes every young person deserves safety, respect, and hope.

What you'll gain

We want volunteers to leave their time with CareAVan feeling enriched, supported, and proud of the impact they’ve made. Through hands-on involvement, volunteers gain a deeper understanding of trauma-informed and harm-reduction practices, along with meaningful experience supporting youth navigating homelessness and substance-use challenges.

Volunteers also benefit from working alongside trained therapists and social workers—gaining mentorship, insight into clinical practice, and opportunities to develop communication, cultural-safety, and crisis-support skills. When appropriate, volunteers may receive reference letters or confirmation of clinical-related experience that can strengthen future applications to social work, psychotherapy, counselling, nursing, or community mental-health programs.

Most importantly, we hope volunteers walk away feeling inspired, more confident in their abilities, and connected to a community that believes every young person deserves safety, dignity, and hope.

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