THE UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN’S MAIN CAMPUS IS SITUATED ON TREATY 6 TERRITORY AND THE HOMELAND OF THE MÉTIS.
THE UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN’S MAIN CAMPUS IS SITUATED ON TREATY 6 TERRITORY AND THE HOMELAND OF THE MÉTIS.
Want to support the place you call home and make an impact on your community? Check out the volunteer opportunities these local organizations have open and make a difference this year.
Whether you’re trying to do more extracurriculars this year, meet new people or develop skills in new environments, getting involved with different volunteer opportunities across the city is sure to add much-needed depth to your life.
Saskatoon’s population has steadily been increasing over the last decade, and the social scaffolding available to anyone who needs it has too. Social services and non-profit organizations of all kinds, to help people from all walks of life, have bloomed, and are always in need of volunteers to help them with their missions and achieve their goals in helping the community.
No matter your background, your past experiences or your interests, there’s definitely an organization out there that will allow you to give back to your community in whatever way suits you best. Depending on your skills and your schedule, there are several different options available for you to look into, so don’t be afraid to go out and get involved!
The Saskatoon Food Bank has been in service since 1983, when it started as a temporary summer project based out of the basement of a church. Now incorporated as a non-profit charity, and with the development of the Learning Centre, it offers several resources and life skills programs for anyone in need. They’ve used progressive, collaborative methods to develop different services and initiatives that work to address the root causes of food insecurity and poverty within Saskatoon.
Volunteer tasks and responsibilities include sorting donations, re-packaging large quantities of food into smaller portions, and creating food packages and hampers for distribution. To get involved, just check out their website and fill out the forms and questionnaires provided.
If you’re looking for something a little more casual and low-commitment to do on off days, this is the volunteer opportunity for you. Volunteer shifts are every weekday from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. There are also occasional shift opportunities on Saturdays, so be sure to check out their social media and website to keep up to date for when they have shifts available outside of their usual hours.
Global Gathering Place (GGP) is a non-profit organization that acts as a support centre for all refugees and immigrants. GGP provides a wide range of assistance to all new immigrants and refugees, helping them adapt to their new home, and providing bridges between their own life experiences and life in Canada. They help newcomers settle and navigate everyday tasks like how to use the transit system and navigate grocery shopping, and more difficult areas of life like language, healthcare and employment.
Their main volunteering opportunities are their English as a Subsequent Language (ESL) Classroom, where volunteers will help improve their written and oral language skills, their childminding program, where volunteers help staff run an on-site daycare facility for working parents, their homework help program, where volunteers will help elementary school students with homework assignments and language activities, and their mentoring program, where volunteers will act as mentors for immigrants and refugees to help address their needs and goals.
GGP also offers several other skills-building programs throughout the year that volunteers can help with, like skating activities, computer-based activities and swimming classes. Volunteers can also help with group facilitation in some of GGPs other programs like BrightStart! and CHEF and help out with group outings when needed.
There are several volunteering opportunities throughout the week as well as on the weekend, depending on what programs you want to work with, and how frequently you want to volunteer. Be sure to check out their website for more details and information on each program, and how to get involved!
International Women of Saskatoon (IWS) was formed in 1985 by a group of women who were new to Saskatoon and wanted to help other newcomer women adjust to their new lives in the city and provide them with support systems that would help them settle more effectively. IWS was formed on feminist, anti-racist and anti-oppressive principles, and today it provides several resources and support programs to newcomer women and their families during the difficult transition period they may experience during their settlement journey.
They’ve worked hard to break down barriers, both systemic and personal, that immigrant and refugee women may have to deal with, and continue to strive towards building a community where all newcomers have the unimpeded ability to thrive in Saskatoon and meet their full potential.
As a volunteer, there are several activities you can help out with, such as helping with their English as an Additional Language (EAL) classes, tutoring clients in computer literacy or English, helping provide childcare, facilitating activities for children, youth, and groups, and even assisting with special events like Folk Fest.
This opportunity requires dedicated volunteers that are able to commit to helping out for at least 3 consecutive months, so if you’re looking for a more low-commitment activity, this might not be the one for you. Volunteers that work with IWS for 3 months or provide 30 hours of service receive a letter of volunteerism from IWS, as well as the opportunity to help make a direct impact on people’s lives.
OUTSaskatoon is a non-profit community centre that works to support the 2SLGBTQ+ community. They provide services and resources that seek to ensure the health and wellbeing of Saskatoon’s queer community.
OUTSaskatoon provides several support systems for people of all ages, from all walks of life. They offer peer support, counselling, queer-specific educational resources, sexual health services, outreach, community social events and referrals, as well as operating Pride Home, a long-term home for queer youth in need.
They offer a variety of different programs, so they’re always in need of new volunteers to lend a hand. The main three activities they need volunteers for are their youth programs (Rainbow Coffee and Rainbow PYY) which requires a weekly commitment, making resources and buttons, which is more of a drop-in activity that you can do casually, and helping with the different events they host throughout the year.
No matter your skills or abilities, they’ll be sure to find some way to put them to use, so if you’re looking for a way to support local queer youth, this is definitely the organization to reach out to.
The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. is a non-profit charity dedicated to protecting and enhancing the Richard St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park in Saskatoon. Their efforts are dedicated to preserving these areas as green spaces that can be loved and enjoyed by the public throughout the year, regardless of the dynamic changes the city has been undergoing. They host tours, facilitate educational events, engage in environmental restoration initiatives, and so much more.
There are several different opportunities available to those interested, including helping conduct tours of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas, design posters and pamphlets, help with social media, and create maps and trail guides.
If you’re ecologically minded and want to get involved, make sure to check out their website and reach out!
SaskAbilities is an organization that has been dedicated to providing support services to people experiencing disability across the province since 1950. They provide inclusive programs and initiatives that aim to enhance the lives of all people experiencing disability, and build inclusive communities for people of all abilities.
They hold several events throughout the year, as well as run multiple campaigns and services that would benefit greatly from the help of volunteers, like their different camps and day programs. They’re always looking for new additions to the team to help enrich everyone’s experience.
If you’re looking to gain experience in the human services field, develop new skills, and work with people in a new environment, then be sure to check out SaskAbilities for ways to get involved this year!
Foundations Learning & Skills Saskatchewan provides adults with free tutoring to help them learn, improve their skills, and develop new ones. For nearly 50 years, they’ve been working to support adult learners in meeting their needs and achieving their goals. They also offer free services and training geared towards families and children, as well as programs that focus on financial literacy.
Current volunteer opportunities available include working with their adult tutor program, where volunteers work one-to-one with clients to help them achieve their goals, their Spark children’s literacy program, where volunteers help children in grades 2-4 improve their reading levels, and their early learning and family literacy programs and events, where volunteers work with preschool-aged children and their families to help kids get a head start on school activities.
If you’re interested about learning more, make sure to check out their website for further details, application requirements, and scheduling.
If you’re looking to volunteer on campus, then you should definitely check out Peer Health. It’s a program provided by the University, run by students, that focuses on promoting health to all USask students throughout the year. They offer Student Recovery Support (SRS) for students with substance-use experience, as well as peer support, and other services for students in need or in unique situations.
As a Peer Health volunteer, you will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience when dealing with student health issues, develop new practical skills and have a direct impact on the community on campus.
Peer Health does expect volunteers to be available at least 2 hours a week, be able to participate in weekly meetings, and contribute to the different programs that they run. They offer basic volunteer training and orientation at the start of each semester so students have an idea of what’s expected from them during their time as a Peer Health volunteer.
Peer Health is a university-approved program for the Co-Curricular Record (CCR), so anyone that fulfills the 25-hour per semester requirement of volunteer contributions is eligible for CCR acknowledgment.
If you’re interested in getting involved, check out their website, or drop by the Usask Community Centre, to learn more.
If you’ve got a story and you’re looking for a platform, then you’ve come to the right place! The Sheaf is always looking for new volunteers to help write, edit, and provide photography for the paper throughout the year. No prior experience is required! Feel free to reach out through our website, by email, or even swing by the office in the Memorial Union building, room 108.
Whether you’re in your first year or your last, everyone is welcome to contribute to the paper. After all, it’s by students, for students.
Check out our website for more information, at our website!
If you’re interested in checking out a few more organizations and opportunities available for students throughout the year, be sure to check out the University’s Office of Sustainability’s website.
