Volunteer

hcss volunteer with senior
hcss volunteer having tea with senior
hcss volunteer laughing with senior

You can help

Home & Community Support Services partners with community members who give of their time and skills to support clients and residents in a variety of ways.

Why Volunteer?

  • Experience personal satisfaction helping others.
  • Become part of a caring team, meet new people and make new friends.
  • Meet community-minded people, who share a common goal.
  • Gain valuable work experience.
  • Make a difference in someone’s life.
  • A way to express gratitude for help you may have received in the past from an organization.
  • Retired professionals can contribute their skills benefiting their community.

We can find something meaningful for you to do whether it is five times a week or twice a month.

Sign up to volunteer online now or call us at: 1-800-267-3798 ext. 6.

Wonder what volunteer role best suits your personality and interests? Take this fun, 3-minute quiz to find out and have a look at our volunteer role descriptions below.

Make a difference

Volunteers join us in our Mission to support independence and enhance the quality of daily life for seniors, adults and their families. As a HCSS Volunteer, your time and commitment has a valuable impact in YOUR community.

We will support you in your volunteer work by setting up meaningful opportunities with clear position descriptions and by providing orientation, on-site training, and ongoing support and recognition.

Sign up to volunteer by calling us at: 1-800-267-3798 ext. 6.

Types of volunteer positions

Volunteer Driver

HCSS’s Transportation Program provides rides to seniors and adults-with-disabilities to help clients access medical appointments and other essential services, including shopping for groceries and visiting the pharmacy.

What does a Volunteer Driver do?

As a Volunteer Driver, you will:

  • Pick up and and drop off HCSS clients to appointments or errands
  • Use your own vehicle to transport the clients to and from their destinations as scheduled by the HCSS
  • Check on the clients’ well-being and report any problems or concerns
  • Follow the agency’s policies and procedures and attend training sessions
  • Receive compensation for mileage and gas based on your delivery route

You might be a good fit for this volunteer role if you:

  • Like helping seniors and adults with physical disabilities
  • Have a reliable vehicle and a valid driver’s license
  • Are punctual, patient and have great interpersonal skills
  • Have a minimum of $1,000,000 liability insurance on your vehicle
  • Can provide two references and are willing to undergo vulnerable sector
    screening

Apply to be a Volunteer

Male driver smiling and behind steering wheel.

Meals on Wheels Volunteer

If you love helping people and have a reliable vehicle and some free time around lunch, you might be a perfect Meals on Wheels (MOW) volunteer!

What Does a MOW Volunteer Do?

As a Meals on Wheels (MOW) Volunteer, you will:

  • Pick up and deliver meals to clients according to the route sheet you’re given
  • Check on clients’ well-being and report problems or concerns to  MOW
    Clerks
  • Follow HCSS policies and procedures and attend training sessions
  • Receive compensation for mileage and gas based on your delivery route

You might be a good fit as a Meals on Wheels Volunteer if you:

  • Enjoy helping seniors and adults-with-disabilities
  • Have reliable vehicle and a valid driver’s license
  • Are punctual and patient
  • Have two references and are willing to get vulnerable sector screening

Apply to be a Volunteer

Senior man receiving food delivery

Day Away Support

If you’re passionate about helping seniors and adults-with-disabilities and want to spend time with a fun and supportive team, you might be a great fit for the Day Away volunteer role. The program helps the clients:

  • Have fun and socialize with others
  • Keep their skills and health
  • Feel good about themselves
  • Give their family/caregivers a break

What does a Day Away Volunteer do?

As a Day Away Volunteer, you’ll help the clients engage in activities, such as games,
crafts, music, exercises, etc. You will also communicate with the staff and attend regular meetings and trainings.

Apply if you:

  • Like helping seniors and adults with special needs
  • Have good interpersonal skills and have a friendly, fun yet respectful approach
  • Are reliable and punctual
  • Can provide two references and are willing to undergo a police check

Apply to be a Volunteer

Senior women painting

Friendly Visitor

HCSS’s Friendly Visiting Program matches volunteers with seniors and adults-with-
disabilities to help clients experiencing loneliness and isolation feel more socially
connected and enjoy activities with another person. It also provides support and relief to family caregivers.

What does a Friendly Visitor Volunteer do?

As a Friendly Visitor Volunteer, you will visit your assigned client once a week for two to three hours. You’ll:

  • Provide companionship and friendship
  • Engage in activities that interest the client, like shopping, games, reading, etc.
  • Plan occasional outings with the client, if possible
  • Encourage the client to use their abilities and community services
  • Report any problems or concerns to HCSS
  • Follow the agency’s policies and procedures and attend HCSS training sessions when applicable

You might be a good fit for this volunteer role if you:

  • Have an interest in helping seniors and adults with disabilities
  • Are patient, sincere and have good listening skills
  • Are friendly, reliable and lighthearted
  • Can provide two references and are willing to undergo vulnerable sector
    screening

Apply to be a Volunteer

Younger woman smiling and talking to an older woman

Volunteer Board Members

Board Directors support, guide and champion HCSS Grey Bruce’s mission statement, goals and vision within the budgetary framework. Your expertise, experience and insights will help HCSS define and realize future goals in serving the needs of Grey-Bruce communities.

What does a board member do?

As a volunteer member of our board you’ll:

  • Attend scheduled board meetings in person or virtually
  • Become familiar with all services provided by HCSS
  • Monitor the progress of HCSS in regard to achieving the level of service agreed upon in our service agreement with the Ministry of Health (MOH)
  • Review board packages are before meetings
  • Monitor monthly and quarterly financial statements
  • Participate in and facilitate discussion on important topics at the board table
  • Hire, support and supervise the Executive Director
  • Approve appointments to the Area Liaison Committees and establish committees as required

This might be a great fit if you are:

  • A strategic thinker and a strong leader
  • Experienced with senior and/or community health services
  • An excellent communicator and have good interpersonal skills
  • Able to regularly attend board meetings, observe board protocol (including rules of order) and can participate on board committees as needed
  • At least 18 years old, a resident of Grey or Bruce county and free of a criminal record

Board of Directors Application Form

More Board of Directors Information

Join Our Team Volunteer Board of Directors with HCSS logo

 

Business Administration Volunteer

If you have a knack for organization and office work, why not consider becoming
Business Administration Volunteer for HCSS?

What does a Business Administration Volunteer do?

As a Business Administration Volunteer, you’ll:

  • Help HCSS staff with various clerical duties
  • Support mass mailings
  • Perform other office duties like filing, running errands, computer data entry and
    calling clients

You might be a great fit if you:

  • Have experience or interest in working in an administrative environment
  • Are detail-oriented
  • Have strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
  • Can provide two personal references and a police check

Apply to be a Volunteer

Woman answering phone at an office.

“I’m now a volunteer driver and I find it makes me feel so good to do something for others. It’s such a small thing and really doesn’t take up much time, but the reward is priceless.”

– K.C.

“As a volunteer I have met many wonderful people who all have an interesting story to tell – their life story. Volunteering has helped me remain active and feel a part of the community. It is a very rewarding experience.”

– J.M.

“Volunteer driving gives me an opportunity to meet nice people, explore my new environment, make myself useful, gets me up and away in the morning.”

– C.N.

“When delivering meals on wheels, it makes you feel good when someone meets you at their door and appreciates your volunteering and greets you with a smile and a thank you.”

– L.P.

“It’s good to see old friends often. They are comfortable with me because they know me. I am happy to see them taken care of. We both win.”

– P.C.

HCSS team

Join our team

Our impactful work is hugely reliant on our volunteers and would not work without them. Make a difference in our community by joining us and volunteering your time to help someone in need.

If you are interested in joining our team of caring volunteers, please complete the Online Volunteer Form or call 1-800-267-3798.

Funding

Our services are funded and supported through:

  • Annual Ministry of Health grant
  • Client user fees
  • Corporate and private donations
  • Generous support of our many volunteers and donors
  • In-kind donations (furniture, equipment, etc.)

How Our Service Works

If you are new to HCSS and would like access one of our programs or services, register with us by calling the central intake office at 1-833-659-5491.

Afterward, please contact us to arrange your service.