Volunteer Opportunities

The following are the programs that require volunteers and the times and capacity in which we utilize volunteers (where applicable).

Administration

Virtually every program requires administration support, from mail outs to data entry. People volunteering in this capacity have more flexible hours and schedules. Computer skills are an asset.

Essentials Market

The Essentials Market has several different volunteer opportunities; over 4 different shifts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. These opportunities include but are not limited to: receiving, stocking, sorting, data entry and client service.

Food For Life

Food for Life is our meal delivery program; we deliver meals to clients throughout the Greater Toronto Area. While a car is not required to volunteer with this program, a valid driver's licence is a definite asset. Volunteers work in a team (driver and runner), so even people without a driver's licence can participate in this program. The main day for this program is every Wednesday from 2 pm to 4 pm.

Friends For Life
Bike Rally

The Bike Rally is not possible without the support, energy and dedication of our volunteers who make this event happen. This includes crew members who travel with the riders during this six-day event and committee members who work for several months in advance to plan the Bike Rally. For more information, please visit the bikerally website.

Front Desk

As the first point of contact with all people coming into or calling the agency, we are always looking for outgoing, personable people to volunteer on our Front Desk team. Shifts are four to five hours long, once per week, from Monday to Friday. Front Desk volunteers help PWA create a safe and welcoming space in our Lounge and ensure all visitors and callers are quickly connected with the people or information they are looking for.

Fundraising

Development volunteers help with PWA's fundraising events and other events held by the community in support of PWA. Most events are one time and require less of a time commitment then program volunteers.

Health Promotion

PWA offers our clients a wide range of health promotion programs, which run at various times and dates. Programs include: Acupuncture, Massage, Haircuts, Yoga and Relaxation Therapies. PWA also offers Theatre Access which connects PWA clients with tickets for all kinds of entertainment in Toronto. These programs require volunteers to have training and official certification where applicable.

Service Access

People wishing to access services at PWA first go through an intake process where they are orientated to the agency and referred to services both within PWA and within larger social service community.

Seasoned volunteers who consistently display our 'CARE' model (Competency in Awareness, Respect and Empathy) are eligible for this position.

Peer Leaders

The Peer Leaders Program is one whereby people living with HIV/AIDS who demonstrate experience, interest and/or skill in leadership, are given the opportunity to design, implement and evaluate a program of their own creation for PWA clients, while providing support to one another.

POZ Prevention

POZ Prevention is an outreach and education program where volunteers engage HIV positive gay men in sexual health management programming.

Speakers Bureau

This program empowers people living with HIV/AIDS to share their powerful life experiences with the public. Our volunteers help remove the stigma and misconceptions of living with HIV/AIDS.

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Current Volunteer Opportunities
(as of Dec 1, 2011)

• Essentials Market
• Service Access
• Front Desk

Information Sessions

For more information, join us every first Wednesday of every month from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. for our Volunteer Information Session. Information sessions are held in the Activity Centre at our office on the 2nd floor.

Our amazing volunteers are the main reason the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation (PWA) is able to provide support to so many people.

Every one of our programs and services are successful due to the dedication of our many volunteers who generously donate their time and resources. PWA looks for volunteers who are dedicated to HIV/AIDS issues, reliable and self-starters. We recruit, train, and place our volunteers-to make sure that everyone is highly valued and doing what they do best.