Volunteer

Make a difference in your community by giving your time, skills, and compassion to help those in need.
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Volunteer with our Kettle campaign

Each Christmas season, volunteers make a difference by greeting donors at our Christmas Kettle locations. Every dollar collected supports local programs and services for those in need.

Apply if you’re new to volunteering, or sign in to the Salvation Army portal if you’re an existing volunteer to easily schedule your kettle shifts.

Join our community today!
Apply to become a volunteer today!
Are you an existing volunteer?
Sign in to The Salvation Army portal to easily schedule and manage your kettle shifts.

Frequently asked questions

Find answers to common questions about volunteering with the Kettle Campaign.

  • What is the Christmas Kettle Campaign?

    The Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign is our largest fundraising drive of the year and one of Canada’s largest and most recognizable annual charitable events. With more than 2,000 kettle locations across Canada, the kettle not only raises critical funds but boosts the Army’s visibility and promotes awareness.

    Since 1903, we have seen kettle campaign donations transform the lives of millions of Canadians, including helping them find a way out of poverty permanently.

  • How are the funds used?

    Funds raised through Christmas kettles, together with other sources of funds, help provide direct, compassionate, hands-on service to 1.9 million vulnerable people each year in Canada. Each kettle location is organized and managed by a local Salvation Army unit. The funds raised stay in the community in which they were donated.

    • Our 2024 Kettle Campaign results

    A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. dealing with a particular point or idea. A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea.

    1,200+

    You can use this section to highlight important statistics from your latest Kettle Campaign, including total funds raised, volunteer hours contributed, and the overall impact on your community.

    85,000 CAD

    You can use this section to highlight important statistics from your latest Kettle Campaign, including total funds raised, volunteer hours contributed, and the overall impact on your community.

    450

    You can use this section to highlight important statistics from your latest Kettle Campaign, including total funds raised, volunteer hours contributed, and the overall impact on your community.

    Questions about Kettle? Contact us

    For questions or to learn more about Kettle opportunities, email us at email@salvationarmy.ca or call 543-235-9434.

    Why volunteer?

    Volunteering is a meaningful way to give back and support others in our community, whether through our Community and Family Services programs or within the church. 
    Outdoor Salvation Army sign mounted on a stone base in front of a building, displaying the message ‘WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS’ beneath the red Salvation Army shield logo, with grass and shrubs surrounding the sign.
    Smiling volunteer wearing a Salvation Army apron packs food items into a cardboard box, standing in front of fully stocked shelves with boxed and canned goods in a food pantry setting.

    Volunteer with The Salvation Army Whitby Community Church and Ministries

    If you’re interested in volunteering with our Food Bank, Thrift Store, or Christmas programs, please contact us at 905-668-7477 ext. 4 or apply online. We truly appreciate your willingness to serve and make a difference.

    Food bank volunteers
    Support our team by sorting donations, checking food quality and expiry dates, assisting with packing, and helping distribute food to those in need.
    Christmas volunteers (November & December)
    Help receive, sort, and organize toy donations, assist with assembling food hampers, or volunteer at our Christmas Kettles (2–3 hour shifts available).
    Church volunteers
    There are many ways to get involved while building community and connection, including helping with the church grounds, kitchen support (coffee, tea, food prep, set-up and clean-up), greeting, ushering, assisting with media (audio, video, livestream), and Sunday preparation (bulletins and welcome materials).
    Volunteer role
    This card can be used to provide a short overview of the role’s purpose, key responsibilities, and what volunteers can expect.
    Volunteer role
    This card can be used to provide a short overview of the role’s purpose, key responsibilities, and what volunteers can expect.
    Volunteer role
    This card can be used to provide a short overview of the role’s purpose, key responsibilities, and what volunteers can expect.

    We also provide opportunities for individuals completing community service hours or high school credit hours.

    Our programs support the community in a variety of ways, including:

    • Providing food assistance through our Food Bank 
    • Grief and Loss Support 
    • Job Training
    • Health Services
    • Housing Options
    • Spiritual Counselling 
    • Parenting Support 
    • Christmas toy assistance and food hampers for families in need
    • And much more...

    If you would like to give back and be apart of the things we are doing in the Whitby community, please fill out the application below!

    Group volunteering

    Looking to volunteer as a group? Whether you are part of a workplace, school or community organization, we can help you find meaningful group volunteering opportunities. Submit a group application form to get started.

    Group of volunteers at a food bank.

    Ready to get started?

    Fill out our volunteer application form to begin your journey.

    Already a volunteer?

    Sign in to the portal to browse and schedule your volunteer shifts.

    Seasonal opportunities

    Get involved in special volunteer initiatives during the holiday season.

    Christmas Kettle Campaign

    Help raise funds for those in need by standing at one of our Christmas kettles.

    Santa Shuffle

    Help out at our festive fun run event—whether cheering on runners, managing booths, or handing out snacks, your support spreads holiday joy.

    Toy Mountain
    Assist in collecting, sorting, and distributing toys to ensure every child wakes up to a gift on Christmas.

    Additional ways to get involved

    Support our mission in creative and meaningful ways beyond traditional volunteering.

    Plant a row, feed a family

    If you love gardening, consider growing an extra row of fruits or vegetables in your garden to donate to our food bank. Every fresh, homegrown item helps provide nutritious meals to those in need.

    Use your talents for good

    Are you skilled in graphic design, photography, social media, or event planning? We welcome volunteers who can help spread awareness and support our programs in creative ways.

    Ready to get started? Apply to volunteer

    Fill out our volunteer application form to begin your journey.

    Questions? Contact us

    For any questions about volunteering, email us at example@salvationarmy.ca or call 111-111-1111.