Be a Volunteer

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Training Program

Barrie Out of the Cold provides training and support for all new volunteers.

At the beginning of each season, Barrie Out of the Cold invites and recommends that all new volunteers attend the Orientation meetings.

Next Orientation:

October 2010
In addition to the information you receive at the Orientation, volunteers will receive shift specific training. The leaders at the six churches hold training sessions prior to the season's start so that all the volunteers are familiar with the space they will be working in, as well as the tasks of the different shifts.

Barrie Out of the Cold Volunteers

The guests who come to our shelters may look a little unkempt at times and initially may not seem very approachable. Living on the street does not give them the benefit of a daily shower. A few have physical and mental health problems. Nearly all lack the support of family and friends and are desperately in need of a friendly smile and a helping hand.

As a volunteer of BOOTC, you soon become more familiar with the guests and you realize that circumstances and lack of support have brought them to the program. The desire to help soon overtakes the initial uncertainty of dealing with people who may present as a little different. If you decide to volunteer to help this program, you will be joining over 1000 volunteers, who, after training, work together in the different church locations to help someone in their time of need. The guests often tell volunteers that this program has been a "lifeline" for them.

Volunteers work together in teams. Each team works once every four (4) weeks. Volunteers commit to working on one or more shifts, six times or more from November to April.

Many volunteers return to help out with this program year after year. We assess where we need replacement volunteers in September so please check our current vacancies chart, which indicates where we need to fill positions.

If there are no vacancies on teams for your preferred shift, please send your application with a request that your name be added to our waiting list. Alternatively, you may consider being a spare until a team vacancy occurs.

Please click here to learn more about the various ways in which you can help Barrie Out of the Cold.

Information about volunteering can also be obtained by calling (705) 331 1396 or by contacting the coordinator of the "Out of the Cold" program in one of the host churches.

Please click here to read what our volunteers have to say about working with Barrie Out of the Cold.

Volunteers with Barrie Out of the Cold must be 18 years or older