Volunteer

Are you a dynamic business leader, a professional within an industry sector, and/or a successful entrepreneur with a passion for empowering women entrepreneurs? YWCA Metro Vancouver’s 10-week PowerUp Ready entrepreneurship training program is seeking Business Mentors to make a lasting impact on aspiring female business owners. As a mentor, you will provide invaluable guidance, support, and expertise to women navigating the exciting journey of starting or growing their businesses.

Crabtree Corner houses many services under one roof, from transitional housing for expecting and new mothers in recovery to child care, parenting programs, a community kitchen and programs for self-identified women who have experienced abuse. Staff and volunteers meet people where they are at with support, resources, programs and referrals. 

YWCA BC operates four childcares in the Lower Mainland, two of which are looking for volunteers to assist with general fix ups and maintenance tasks, as well as to support when deliveries of supplies arrive.

What you’ll be doing:

The Engage Mentorship Hub is a resource for YWCA Employment Program alumni to connect with mentors from a variety of industries, to expand their professional network, access knowledge & guidance, and learn about career paths and employment opportunities. 

Are you a self-identified Indigenous woman or gender-diverse person*? Our talking circle is seeking peer mentors!  

Providing a meal through YWCA Crabtree Corner Community kitchen is an amazing way to really see the impact of your time and generosity for our clients living in the downtown east side. Under the supervision of our YWCA kitchen staff, your team will prepare a healthy, fulfilling breakfast served in-person to approximately 80-100 members of our community who come to us daily for food and support. 

YWCA Crabtree Corner Housing is a transitional program, with supports for pregnant and parenting women in recovery, based on a harm reduction model.

We are seeking 2-3 volunteers to assist in their weekly residence gathering. With supervision, volunteers would help the housing staff to:

• Prepare a meal in the Crabtree Kitchen
• Serve the residents and assist in clean up
• Help with childcare, as needed, while the mothers meet. 

The YWCA Metro Vancouver will be running after-school programs this fall to support Grade 7 students in their transition to high school. A team of staff and volunteers deliver pre-planned curriculum on topics such as healthy living, social media, friendship, peer pressure, bullying, and mindsets to a group of 15-20 Grade 7 students.

YWCA Metro Vancouver offers several unique employment programs that provide opportunities for volunteers to share their skills and experience through mentoring, hosting workshops, mock interviews, etc. 

Create self-care kits for women experiencing homelessness, substance use issues, poverty, violence, poor health or other challenges in the Downtown Eastside. Self Care Kits are distributed daily at YWCA Crabtree Corner.

With your co-workers, friends or family assemble items from the list below in clear plastic bags and deliver them to Crabtree Corner. You are welcome to add other items that you think may be useful.

Many of the families that move into YWCA second-stage transition housing arrive with nothing but their clothing. Second-stage housing is where women can begin to rebuild their lives away from an abusive partner.

The YWCA provides furnished apartments, emotional support, information and referrals, safety planning and court accompaniment. Your group can help this difficult transition by purchasing and assembling House Warming Baskets for families when they first arrive.