Volunteer with Grassroots

Our volunteers help people feel safe, supported, and less alone — one small action at a time.

Want to volunteer only with Ukrainians? Visit our Ukrainian volunteer page →

Who our volunteers
support

You choose how you volunteer

Grassroots International began by supporting displaced Ukrainians.

As our community-based model has proven effective, we are piloting limited support for other vulnerable groups in partnership with trusted organizations.

Displaced Ukrainians (ongoing core work)
Government Assisted Refugees (pilot, with Reception House)
Women and families in crisis (pilot, Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region)
Refugee claimants (pilot, with COMPASS Refugee Centre)

If you’re looking to volunteer only in support of Ukrainians, you can visit our Ukrainian volunteer page here.

You indicate who you want to support when you sign up
You choose the type of help you’re comfortable providing
You can say no to any request
You can volunteer once, occasionally, or regularly

How Volunteers Help

Housing & daily life

Welcome setup for a new arrival (basic home tour, house rules, safety)
Help someone learn household basics (laundry, stove/oven, cleaning supplies)
Donation pickup & drop-off for a specific household need (bed, dishes, winter gear)

Practical support

Translation support for everyday tasks (messages, forms, appointment instructions)
Helping people understand and complete basic forms (school, daycare, benefits, housing applications),
Employment-related assistance

Connection & wellbeing

Buddy support (one-on-one check-ins, helping someone navigate community life)
Friendly practice conversations in English (informal, practical topics)
Support with basic orientation (how transit works, where to buy essentials, local norms)

Behind the scenes

Data entry and tracking (intake notes, volunteer tasks, program sign-ups)
Social media, website updates, and basic design support (posts, flyers, event promos)
Event support (setup, greeting, cleanup, photography, registration table)

You don’t need to read everything below to get started — you can sign up and let us know how you’d like to help.

Become a Volunteer

From one-time help to leading projects

Volunteers are encouraged to bring ideas forward and work with others to shape new projects when needs arise.

Task-based and short-term support

Some volunteers help with practical, short-term, or occasional tasks. This is a great way to get involved without a long-term commitment.

No pressure to take on more than you want.

Project development & leadership roles

Grassroots is volunteer-led. Many of our projects exist because volunteers identified a need and helped build a response.

Volunteers may also:

Lead or co-lead a project or team
Help design new initiatives or improve existing ones
Support coordination, planning, or systems
Contribute professional skills (e.g. bookkeeping, reporting, communications, governance)

A note on leadership and initiative

We welcome volunteers who:

bring ideas
notice gaps
enjoy problem-solving
want to help shape how support is delivered

You don’t need to “wait for permission” or worry about stepping on toes. Grassroots grows through collaboration, shared responsibility, and trust.

How it works

1. Sign up

Share your interests, availability, and preferences.

2. Get connected.

We’ll suggest a role or project based on your interests and availability.

3. Adjust as needed

You are never stuck in a role or a team. There is always opportunities to join different projects or try something new.

Many volunteers try more than one role over time — that’s part of how our community grows.

Volunteer roles and expectations

Volunteer roles at Grassroots vary widely. Some are task-based or short-term, while others are more relational or evolve over time. Volunteers may help with transportation, deliveries, household setup, admin, events, communications, coordination, or responding to specific requests as they arise.

We ask volunteers to keep us updated on what they are helping with and to reach out if something changes or feels unclear. This allows our team to coordinate efforts, offer guidance, and provide support when needed.

In return, volunteers can expect clear communication, flexibility, and access to staff and partner organizations for advice or support. Volunteers are welcome to shift roles, take breaks, or try different types of involvement over time.

Interested in leadership or governance?

Grassroots is a volunteer-led organization and also relies on volunteer governance. We welcome individuals interested in contributing at a strategic or organizational level.

Board and committee members help guide long-term direction, oversight, and sustainability, and work closely with staff and volunteers.

Apply

Volunteering with Grassroots often starts with helping someone else, but many volunteers find they also gain new connections, a stronger sense of community, and a better understanding of what’s happening locally. People often meet others they wouldn’t have crossed paths with otherwise — sometimes even discovering friends, neighbours, or family members who are already involved.