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Volunteer at Circle of Care

Give some time and give the world.

Volunteer with us!

We have a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for students, young adults, working adults, and retirees. Learn about how you can make a difference.

Apply to Volunteer

More than 400 volunteers fuel many of Circle of Care’s signature programs. From delivering groceries and Meals on Wheels food, , to paying friendly visits to isolated older adult and accompanying them to medical appointments, our volunteers are kind, compassionate, and have a strong desire to help older adults in our community live happier and healthier in their own homes, where most of them want to be. Read below to learn more about the many flexible volunteer opportunities at Circle of Care and become a volunteer today!

You can call us call us 416 635 2860 ext. 375 to speak to our volunteer specialists, or apply directly using the yellow button above.

In adopting the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement, Circle of Care commits to value and support the contribution of volunteers through respectful, meaningful and inclusive engagement.

Hear from our Volunteers about their Experience

“I honestly feel like they [the clients] are a part of my family, and I care deeply about how they are. For me, it’s just a great way to end my week.”
– Barb, Meals on Wheels and Adult Day Program Volunteer

“I come home feeling happy – like I had a really good day after all these get togethers, because you’re interacting with all these people and getting to know their amazing stories, history, and personalities.”
– Dave, Link Generations & Let’s Get Together Program Volunteer

“More than delivering meals, we’re a wellness check. That’s just as important as delivering meals. The meals are a great thing, the meals are needed – but that early warning system is vastly important.”
– Paul, Meals on Wheels Volunteer

“I found the bereavement work very meaningful, you meet wonderful people, and really make a difference – not only in their lives, but in our lives too.”
– Lana, Bereavement and Hospice Volunteer

Ways to Volunteer

Click on the program names below to learn more about our many opportunities to help make a difference in someone’s life.

Meals on Wheels Volunteer Drivers

Volunteer on your own or with a friend and help deliver meals in our community.
Brighten someone’s day by bringing them a meal, showing concern for their well being, having a friendly chat and making sure that all is well.
Create your own delivery schedule, shifts are available Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Mileage is reimbursed while on route.

Grocery Pickup/Shopping

Many of our clients are elderly and frail; this prohibits them from grocery shopping. We are in need of volunteers who can pick up grocery orders once a week after the client places the order with a local store. After picking up the order, you will deliver it to the client’s home and, if needed, assist them with putting the food away. This helps ensure older adults have food in their homes.

Corporate Volunteering

At Circle of Care, we have a number of opportunities for groups of corporate employees who want to give some of their time to the community. For example, these groups can spend a morning with us delivering meals to older adults in the GTA through our Meals on Wheels Program. We deliver Monday to Friday from 9am to noon. Our Meals on Wheels program is driven by volunteers who deliver 200,000 meals annually. Delivering meals is more than just ensuring an older adult has food for the day – it’s also a security check to ensure they are safe and in good health. This is a great team building exercise for employee groups.

Sometimes we also have employee groups join us for a few hours of volunteering at our Adult Day Program, where we provide daily programming to adults living with dementia and those who are frail and elderly.

If you want to find out more about these opportunities, you can email us at volunteer@circleofcare.com or call 416-721-7629.

“This was a very rewarding experience and my team had an amazing time! I was very impressed by the people, the facility and the entire Circle of Care organization. The amount of food you provide in a year is astounding. It was also amazing to see how far the program reaches!” – Anne-marie, Maple Leaf Foods

Circle of Care also accepts corporate donations. To donate to Circle of Care, visit our Donations page.

Phone Pals

Do you enjoy talking on the phone? Have good communication skills? Phone Pal Volunteers provide regular weekly or daily telephone calls to isolated older adults who have few connections to family members and/or friends. Calls can be made in the comfort of your own home, work or even from Circle of Care. Volunteers often become a telephone friend; a resource and confidante to the client. The ability to speak other languages is not necessary but an asset.

Russian-Speaking Phone Pal

Are you fluent in both Russian and English? Do you enjoy talking on the phone? Have good communication skills? Phone Pal Volunteers provide regular weekly or daily telephone calls to isolated older adults who have few connections to family members and/or friends. Calls can be made in the comfort of your own home, work or even from Circle of Care. Volunteers often become a telephone friend; a resource and confidante to the client.

Russian-Speaking Friendly Visitor

Are you fluent in both Russian and English? If you or work in North York and have a minimum of 1-2 hours a week to spare, you can make a huge difference with a lonely older adult seeking companionship by visiting him or her in their own home. Clients and volunteers are matched with someone of similar interests and location is prioritized based on your requirements. If you live or work in the downtown area, our Sinai Friendly Visiting may be another option for you.

Complementary Therapies for Hospice Clients

We are looking for professionals in Registered Massage Therapy, Reiki, Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch, Reflexology, Music or Expressive Arts Therapy, Yoga, or Pet Therapy to join our Hospice team and share your skills with our clients.

Friendly Visitors

If you or work in North York and have a minimum of 1-2 hours a week to spare, you can make a huge difference with a lonely older adult seeking companionship by visiting him or her in their own home! Clients and volunteers are matched with someone of similar interests and location is prioritized based on your requirements. Languages such as Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian and Hungarian are helpful.

If you live or work in the downtown area, our Sinai Friendly Visiting may be another option for you.

Hospice Volunteers

Bring comfort and support to a person facing a life threatening illness. Hospice volunteers offer many specialized services that include companionship, emotional support, and practical assistance to our clients and short-term relief to client families and caregivers. Hospice volunteers are specially trained (mandatory 30 hr training) and are asked to commit to 2-4 hours per week. Training is free and is offered three times a year: winter, spring and fall.

Adult Day Program Volunteers

Do you have a special interest in working with older adults who have Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other age-related cognitive impairment? Volunteers are needed to provide social, recreational and educational assistance to programs located at the Adult Day Program, 9600 Bathurst Street, Unit 4. Hours are 8:30 – 3:30 Monday – Friday or Tues- Wed until 6pm. A 2 hour commitment either in am or pm is required. This is an opportunity to work alongside our staff and spend time with a wonderful group of older adults.

Medical Assistance Companions

Volunteers are needed to escort older adults or people with disabilities, who are unable to leave their residence on their own to go to medical appointments. Volunteers accompany clients to their appointment via taxi, TTC, Wheel Trans or iRide. They then ensure the client returns home safely prior to leaving.  Training is provided.

Administrative Assistants – PROGRAM ON HOLD

Volunteers are needed to provide support once a week between 8:30 to 4:30 to assist with a variety of office tasks: mailings, computer work, filing, putting together supply orders and welcome packages as well as a number of other administrative duties. This is a great opportunity for an individual looking to gain experience in administration or for newly retired individuals who want to keep busy and give back using their office skills.

Volunteers for Social Activities and Groups

Volunteers are needed for 3-4 hours between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, to assist with the planning and execution of social programs for isolated older adults. These groups take place in the North York area, two are offered in English and one in Russian. If you are interested in working with older adults and enjoy getting together with other volunteers/clients on a social level, then this is a wonderful opportunity.

Musicians

Share your musical talents and put a smile on an older adult’s face. We are looking for musicians to give their time once a month at one of our many programs.

Volunteer Gardeners

Circle of Care is piloting a small program to help bring fresh produce to our clients. We invite anyone interested to plant an extra row or a few plants in their home garden and donate the produce to Circle of Care once it has grown. The donated vegetables and fruits will be given to Circle of Care clients, bringing fresh produce to older adults in the community.

If interested, contact us via phone or email us at 416-635-2860 x375, volunteer@circleofcare.com.

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Do you have a special talent and idea on how you can volunteer with us? Give us a call at 416-635-2860 x375. We would love to discuss your idea further.

Words from the Heart

Hear from a few of our volunteers about why they volunteer with Circle of Care.

Meet Nisha: Making a Difference Through Volunteering

| News, Volunteers | No Comments
Describe your volunteer experience. I volunteer in the office, completing clerical work. I enter data and prepare documents that are used by staff to help clients. I also volunteer as…

Meet Michael: Highlighting a Journey of Impact and Connection

| News, Volunteers | No Comments
Michael has consistently been a pillar of support for our senior community, initially assisting clients attending our social programs. He now currently provides invaluable volunteer administrative support.

Meet Dave: Our Dedicated Program Volunteer

| Volunteers | No Comments
Discover the heartwarming story of Dave, a dedicated volunteer who has been passionately contributing to our cause since 2022.

Get to Know a Volunteer: Zain

| Uncategorized, Volunteers | No Comments
Meet Zain, a teen who is passionate about giving back to his community. Zain developed meaningful connections with older adults - creating a strong link between two generations.
image of volunteer delivering meal
Image of volunteer Cara with client
Image of volunteer Ed with clients

Interested in volunteering with us? Fill out our application form.

 
Central HCCSS
Claims Conference
German Federal Ministry of Finance
UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
Government of Canada
City of Toronto
Hospice Palliative Care Ontario
Accreditation Canada