Volunteer With Us!
Whether you're volunteering for a few hours, organizing a group activity, or taking on a leadership role, your contribution helps create a more welcoming and connected community for people experiencing homelessness in Toronto.
There is a volunteer opportunity for everyone.
Contact us at volunteer@hctoronto.org for any of these opportunities.
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Next Large One-Stop-Shop: Sunday, October 25, 2026
✳︎ Next Large One-Stop-Shop: Sunday, October 25, 2026
Volunteer at the Large One-Stop-Shop Event
Join hundreds of volunteers at Toronto’s largest one-day event connecting individuals experiencing homelessness with services, resources, healthcare, clothing, food, and community.
For this event, we rely on over 300 day-of volunteers to have the event run smoothly. New volunteers must attend one training, offered either in-person or virtual.
The roles we have are outlined below. Check out our FAQ or send us a note on our contact form if you have any questions!
Volunteer Roles
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Greeters
Greeters welcome each guest to the event. You're the first person they meet at the event, so be prepared to say hello with a smile and provide a warm welcome. You will help with crowd control outside, ensure orderly conduct within our line-up, answer any questions and offer additional support.
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Registration
Registration volunteers assist guests in filling out registration forms, help guests to identifying the services that they would like to access at the event, and even connect them to a translator (if needed). Your role is to help our guests know what's available to them and how they should prioritize their day.
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Guides
Guides accompany our guests from registration to the services. You will answer questions and assist guests with locating the services throughout the day. Your role is to provide a one-on-one “concierge” experience to our guests. Be prepared to be on your feet all day, walking (sometimes running) around!
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Gophers
Gophers provides extra support to services and/or relieve other volunteers so they will receive adequate breaks. You will assist at different stations throughout the day. Ready to take on any job? This is the perfect role for you!
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Data
A bit shy, but still want to be involved? Data volunteers help enter information from registration and guest experience surveys throughout the event day. You will be required to bring a laptop to the event for data entry.
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Set-Up/Teardown
For this role, you will help us with setting up before event day and tearing down at the end of the event. If you are able to assist with either set-up or tear down, you can add this additional role on your registration form.
Role Breakdown
When you register to be a volunteer, we ask you for your preferred role and try to accommodate for that. However, the bulk of our volunteers are assigned as Guides, making up 75% of the volunteers we need to run our event successfully.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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All volunteers are asked to dedicate a full day (9:30am to 4:30pm) to volunteer at the event.
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All NEW volunteers are asked to attend a mandatory orientation to ensure the event can maintain its high standards. Returning volunteers are encouraged to attend a training session if you attended one prior to 2018 to have more up-to-date information about event changes. Training will take place one week before the event. The sessions will provide volunteers with event information, sensitivity training, volunteer package and volunteer t-shirt.
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Role placements are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis to be make sure it is fair for all volunteers. On your application, please be clear about which role you would like to be placed. While we can’t guarantee your request, we do try our best to assign you to your requested role. Just a reminder that 75% of our volunteers are assigned to Guides as it provides personal one-on-one interactions between each guest and our volunteers.
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Yes! While the majority of roles require a lot of standing and walking throughout the day, we do have some roles in registration and service support that are seated positions. If you have issues with mobility, we’d still love your help, but make sure you indicate on your volunteer registration form, so we can assign you to an appropriate role. There are very limited availabilities for a seated position at the event.
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Yes! For those who are 12 - 15, they will need to be accompanied and volunteering with an adult. For those who are 16 - 17, they can volunteer, as long as we receive their guardian's signed consent. Our Volunteers Co-Chairs will reach out to you if you indicated these age brackets on the registration form.
Students who need to sign off on volunteer hours can either bring their form and have it signed at the end of the day at our HCT table on the 2nd floor, or send an email to volunteer@hctoronto.org.
Our clothing sort and comfort kit volunteer opportunities are open to children 5 years and up.
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Yes. Please indicate your preference for meat or vegetarian on the Volunteer registration form.
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There are a variety of paid parking lots located nearby, ranging from $10 to $40 for the full day. Check on bestparking.com for the location of available lots. Public transportation is strongly recommended. The nearest subway station is College Station.
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We DO have some limited group volunteering opportunities prior to event day, which may include sorting clothes for the clothing bank, packing toiletry comfort kits, etc. If your group is interested in volunteering, please contact us at volunteer@hctoronto.org.
If you have a group of people that are interested in volunteering on event day, please sign up as individuals and state on the volunteer application what group you are with. The volunteer coordinator will try to keep groups together, but there is no guarantee that groups will be placed together as it depends on placements as needed.
Are you part of an organization that provides services to individuals experiencing homelessness or poverty?
Join our annual Homeless Connect Toronto events and connect directly with guests seeking supports and resources.
Visit our Service Providers page for more information.
Register as a Service Provider
“The guests were appreciative and friendly - ultimately they made my experience today amazing! Everyone was so respectful. Had a great time and definitely plan to volunteer again.”
— Volunteer
Volunteer at a Community Connect Event
Community Connect events are smaller versions of the large One-Stop-Shop held throughout the year in neighbourhoods across Toronto.
Hosted in partnership with organizations like Fred Victor, Scott Mission, The Stop, and other community partners, these events connect approximately 100 guests with services, supports, and community resources.
Volunteers assist with:
Guest welcoming and registration
Wayfinding and support
General event support
Time Commitment: Typically one daytime event; Groups welcome.
Make Comfort Kits
Gather your friends, family, workplace, youth group, or congregation to assemble comfort kits for Community Connect events.
Comfort kits (sometimes called “blessing bags”) typically include:
Toiletries
Personal care items
Seasonal essentials
Handwritten messages of encouragement
This is a meaningful volunteer activity that can be done from your home, workplace, school, or community space.
Time Commitment: Flexible; Groups welcome.
Host a Fundraiser in Your Community
Turn your passion into impact.
Create your own fundraiser and support Homeless Connect Toronto through:
Fitness challenges
Yoga classes
Birthday fundraisers
Workplace events
Community gatherings
School initiatives
Yard sale
We’ll provide guidance, promotional materials, and support to help make your fundraiser a success.
Time Commitment: Flexible; Groups welcome.
For more information and to register, visit our Fundraise page.
Volunteer for Home-ness Week (July)
At Homeless Connect Toronto, we believe that home is more than four walls and a roof. Through our research, we've learned that "home-ness" is created through meaningful connections to people, places, and things that matter.
Every July, volunteers, community groups, and businesses will help transform approximately 30 housing units across two WoodGreen buildings through cleaning, organizing, painting, and minor repairs. The two-week initiative will conclude with a community BBQ celebrating tenants, volunteers, and the power of connection.
Volunteer as a Group
Perfect for corporate teams, faith communities, schools, and community groups. No experience necessary.
Donate Household Items
Furniture, kitchen supplies, linens, cleaning supplies, and other household essentials help turn housing into a home.
Provide Gift Cards
Give tenants the flexibility to purchase the items they need most.
Sponsor Home-ness Week
Support the initiative through financial contributions, volunteer teams, or in-kind donations.
Your support can help create welcoming homes and stronger communities.
Host a Clothing Drive (September Only)
Help us collect the clothing our guests need most by becoming a community collection site.
Perfect for:
Churches and faith communities
Schools and student groups
Workplaces
Community organizations
As a clothing drive host, you'll collect donations throughout September and help ensure our guests have access to warm, clean clothing at our annual Homeless Connect event.
Time Commitment: Flexible throughout September
Participate in a Clothing Sort (October)
Can't make the main event? Join us for a clothing sorting session and help prepare thousands of donated items for distribution.
These volunteer opportunities are ideal for:
Families with older children
Church groups
Friends and coworkers
Individuals looking for a short volunteer opportunity
Time Commitment: 2 hours; Groups welcome.
Want to join our planning team?
In order to run our successful events, we have a Volunteer Planning Team who takes on different roles. We have open positions that need passionate, dedicated, and committed volunteers.