Redeemer students recognize that living faith seeks to be a light to the world, and the world is right in our backyard. Volunteering is an integral part of your university experience, already starting in your first week. During first-year orientation, LAUNCH, each new student helps with our annual food drive that supports the Neighbour to Neighbour Centre food bank. For over 10 years, Deedz has been a weekly service opportunity for Redeemer students to go downtown, hand out hot chocolate and have a conversation with people on the streets every Friday night.
We also provide several resources to help connect students with meaningful volunteer opportunities throughout Hamilton and beyond. Here’s a few that students have been involved in while at Redeemer:
Best Buddies
Opportunity: Spend one to one time with a person with an intellectual disability building a friendship and having fun together!
City Kidz
Opportunity: Be involved in providing a fun, entertaining and exciting atmosphere for 1,100 children aged 3-12 that teaches positive attitudes and behaviours founded on Christian values and principles. City Kidz also offers a Junior Leadership program that reaches out to 160 youth in the city. The City Kidz mission is to inspire by bringing hope, instilling resiliency and impacting the future of Hamilton’s kids!
Micah House
Opportunity: Help refugee claimants as they settle into life in Hamilton
Micah House is a short-term home for refugee claimants in Hamilton. There are many opportunities for volunteers to interact with newcomers by, for example, cooking and sharing meals, helping around the house, taking guests to visit places in the Hamilton area and generally developing friendships and connections with Micah House’s guests.
Meadow Creek Community Church
Opportunity: Assist with a Bible-based evening program for children ages 3 -12. The program is held at Gordon Price Elementary School in Hamilton on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m.
Hamilton Literacy Council
Opportunity: HelpHamilton residents upgrade their level of literacy. You will be helping individuals increase their basic reading and writing skills based on their own personal goals.
Mark Preece Family House
Opportunity: The Mark Preece Family House provides a “home away from home” for families of critical care patients staying at a Hamilton area hospital. The home provides affordable, accessible accommodation while offering support, hope and healing in a comfortable, home-like environment. Volunteers are needed to help with the daily routines of the house, including greeting guests, answering phones, helping with housekeeping and general office duties.
Canadian National Institute for the Blind
Opportunity: Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) has always been an organization of people helping people, and nowhere is that more evident than in the incredible work of volunteers. They’re truly the heart and soul of the CNIB, and they do everything from producing accessible library materials to coordinating CNIB events, to working with people who are blind or partially sighted right in their own homes and communities. For more information, visit the
CNIB website.
Hamilton Library Homework Clubs
Opportunity: Assist children in grades 1-6 with their homework and reading assignments.
Neighbour to Neighbour Centre
Opportunity: Help over 1,500 clients select food items and gifts for their families at the Neighbour to Neighbour Centre Christmas Store during December. Volunteer in the Centre’s food bank and warehouse during the summer, or even at the occasional Saturday food drive.
Habitat for Humanity – Building Project
Opportunity: Help give back to the community and make affordable housing a possibility for Hamilton families by coming and working on Habitat for Humanity’s barrier-free unit! All experience levels are welcome to come contribute! Whether you’re experienced, a do-it-yourselfer, or just looking to gain new skills – Habitat will find something for you to do! Come out and learn useful new skills while contributing to your community!
Habitat for Humanity – ReStore
Opportunity: Help out at the Hamilton ReStore by providing customer service, stocking shelves, displaying merchandise, assisting customers, and occasional assembly/repair of items.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hamilton and Burlington
Opportunities: Assist by being a mentor or special events volunteer. Big Brothers Big Sisters has many opportunities and will work with you to find a fun and beneficial volunteer experience to suit your schedule and skill-set.
VON Canada
Opportunities: Assist with various programs for infants, seniors, people with disabilities, socially isolated people, and people with life-threatening illness. Programs include Meals on Wheels, Volunteer Visiting, Hospice Volunteer Service, Good Beginnings, SMART In-Home Exercise Program and TeleTouch.
North Hamilton Community Health Centre
Opportunity: Work as a Pathways to Education program volunteer. Assist students in grades 9 to 11 as a tutor or group mentor.
Christians Against Poverty
Opportunity: Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a fast-growing charity, connecting with churches and people from all over Canada. CAP needs your help to coordinate events, to speak to supporters, to raise awareness of CAP and anything else you think you could bring to the team!
CAP Canada is a new charity partnering with local churches to bring hope and a solution to those facing overwhelming debt.
