Volunteer opportunities | City of Kitchener

There are lots of ways to have a positive impact on your community. You can find a way to volunteer with the city and other resources on this page.

On this page:

Current opportunities
Youth volunteer opportunities
Organize a community clean-up
Brighten the day for your neighbours
Get more involved in your neighbourhood
Other ways to make an impact
Volunteer with a local agency

Current opportunities

Open the accordions below to discover current volunteer opportunities with the City of Kitchener.

NEW: Kitchener Nature Steward

The Forestry and Natural Areas Team is looking for volunteers interested in environmental restoration to join our Kitchener Nature Stewards program.

Gain hands-on field experience with various aspects of ecological stewardship and restoration, initially focused on invasive plant species identification and removal.

 We are recruiting for two roles:

Individual Stewards will help with the manual work (ages 14+)
Lead Stewards will take on a leadership role of their group, reporting back to staff (ages 18+)

No prior experience is necessary. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old.

Let’s work together to make Kitchener’s natural areas healthier! 

Apply to become a Volunteer Nature Steward.

Leisure Support Volunteer

The City of Kitchener is committed to ensuring that all residents can participate in leisure and recreational programs regardless of age and/or ability. 

By becoming a Leisure Support Volunteer, you can assist individuals in city programs that may require additional support to participate. Leisure Support volunteers provide one-on-one or group support to participants in a city program led by staff.

Opportunities may include:

All-Access Hangout program for youth ages 14-21 with a disability. In this program, you will provide enthusiasm, redirection, instruction breakdown, and repeat instructions as needed for the tasks at hand (i.e., cooking, crafts, etc.)
Basketball program: you may be assisting a child by redirecting them to the task at hand and promoting friendship building.
Learn to golf program: you will provide a schedule breakdown so that the participant knows what to expect.
Swimming lesson: you will reinforce pool safety and provide positive choices when waiting for their turn to swim.

Volunteers should have:

An interest in supporting individuals with a disability (experience an asset)
Ability to communicate in a positive manner and read body language and other non-verbal forms of communication
Ages 18+, but younger volunteers with lived experience may be considered

Apply to become a Leisure Support Volunteer.

Volunteer shifts and programs are dependent upon the number of support requests received and the individuals requiring support, but year-round weekly volunteer shifts and daily summer-time shifts (July and August) may be available.

Accessible formats, accommodations, and communication supports are available upon request. Please email marina.dotzert@kitchener.ca or call 519-783-8996 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.

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Youth volunteer opportunities

Do you know a young person looking for volunteer hours? Check out these opportunities:

check out our current volunteer opportunities to see if any postings fit your interests and availability
Building Youth Leadership Development (BYLD) gives young people aged 12 to 15 the opportunity to learn leadership skills, responsibility and self-confidence
Kitchener Youth Crew gives kids aged 12 to 17 a chance to help out at youth drop-in programs at their local community centre
Kitchener Youth Action Council (KYAC) is for young people aged 14 to 24 who want to make a positive difference in the community

For any questions about BYLD, Youth Crew or KYAC, please send us an email.

Organize a community clean-up

Organize your own community clean-up of a local park, public space, or trail. If your clean-up is in April, register online to get free supplies from your local community centre.

Community clean-ups bring people together for a common cause: cleaning up our community. They provide an opportunity to see how a small act for a short time can have a great impact. When people get involved in cleaning their neighbourhoods, parks and open spaces, they are less likely to litter and more likely to keep it clean.

Brighten the day for your neighbours

Consider simple ways you can make a positive contribution to your neighbourhood, like:

helping neighbours bring in their trash or recycling bins
dropping off positive cards or notes
arranging to have a meal delivered to someone’s home
keeping your property neat and attractive
recognize a garden that you think makes Kitchener a greener, more vibrant or sustainable place to live by submitting the address for a Kitchener in Bloom award

Get more involved in your neighbourhood

Check out the What's in my Neighbourhood? map, reach out to a nearby community centre to find out which neighbourhood association is active in your area and ask if they’re looking for volunteers, or take some time to connect with your neighbour and start planning a neighbourhood project with the help of a neighourhood liaison.

You could also get to know your neighbours better by organizing a virtual, or outdoor gathering.

Other ways to make an impact

Open the accordions below to find other ways to make a positive impact in your community.

Donate items you no longer need or use

As a household, sort through toys, books, clothes, linens, and other items from your home. Local organizations that will accept clean items in good repair include Thrift on Kent and Worth a Second Look. If you want to share your books with others in your neighbourhood, consider placing them in a Little Library.

Donate items to a local organization

Many agencies and community organizations keep yearly or seasonal wish lists of products and items that help their clients in their daily lives or just help the agency to run more smoothly, for example:

Donate food and pantry items to a community fridge

“Take what you need. Leave what you can.”

Did you know Community Fridge KW is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week outside the Kitchener Market (300 King Street East, Kitchener)? Donations of fresh produce and non-perishable food items can be dropped off, or picked up, anytime. 519 Nourish Community Fridge is also accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 150 Roger Street in Waterloo.

Recognize a deserving neighbour

Do you have a good neighbour? Nominate them for the Good Neighbour recognition program so they know their efforts are appreciated! You can nominate a Kitchener resident, group, business, or organization who makes your neighbourhood a better place to live. You will receive a thank you card signed by the mayor and a member of council to give to your neighbour. Nominees will also be entered into a bi-monthly draw to win great prizes. Find information about other City of Kitchener awards and recognition opportunities on our website.

Volunteer with a local agency

If you’re looking to make a positive impact over a longer period of time, you may want to consider volunteering to help a local organization. Visit the Volunteer Waterloo Region website to see what in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities are available.