Volunteer FAQs

Volunteering with The Salvation Army means you can make a positive impact on your community!

The work you do will benefit others in need but can also create a meaningful experience for you as well. It’s a great way to:

  • Meet new people;
  • Make friends;
  • Feel accomplished by sharing your skills with others;
  • Enjoy new opportunities;
  • Enhance your resume;
  • And build your work experience.

Most of all you’ll be making a difference by giving hope to others in need!

Many locations offer opportunities to volunteers ages 16 and up. However, some have different minimum age requirements. Certain locations are able to accommodate family activities or younger volunteers if accompanied by an adult.

While we appreciate your interest, the Volunteer Services department does not currently have a formal placement program to accommodate requests from the general public abroad.

Filling out the form above is the first step in the application process. A staff member will contact you with further instructions on how to connect with your local unit. An interview and training usually follows, with some roles requiring further screening such as a criminal record or vulnerable sector check.

Volunteer opportunities are varied and there are many ways to be involved! Some of the ways you can help include:

  • Office administration
  • Packing food hampers
  • Stocking shelves, sorting toys
  • Sorting clothes and pricing items at a Thrift Store
  • Ringing bells beside our iconic Christmas Kettle
  • Visiting seniors
  • Recreation programming
  • Gardening and landscaping
  • Emergency disaster relief

The length of time varies depending on the position. There are one-time, seasonal and ongoing volunteer roles. On your request form please indicate the level of commitment you are seeking and we will make every effort to find a suitable arrangement.

Yes, there are! If you are a student and need to fulfill community hours, please specify this on your application and we will do our best to find an appropriate opportunity for you.