Volunteer

Help us change lives one family at a time. Transform the experience of a family affected by cancer. You’ll gain a rewarding experience giving supportive cancer care to a family in your community. 

Apply Now

The Volunteer Journey

  1. 1

    The Connection

    This is your first step in learning about how you can make an impact by supporting a family during their cancer journey.

  2. 2

    The Discovery Process

    This is your chance to dive deeper into everything Nankind with our Volunteer Experience Team and showcase your life experiences!

  3. 3

    The Training Advantage

    You will learn how to answer really difficult questions kids have about their parents’ cancer. Meet other volunteers through an interactive virtual group session to learn more about your responsibilities.

  4. 4

    Magical Matching System

    This is where the magic happens. Your unique experiences and strengths shine through to help us find the best family fit!

  5. 5

    The Volunteer and Child Life Transformer

    You will gain expertise and confidence as you help a child through the trauma of living with a parent’s cancer illness or death. Our Child Life Specialists will be with you every step of the way!

  6. 6

    Graduation Celebration

    It’s always difficult to say goodbye. That’s why we help you plan a celebratory final visit with the family. We ask that you partake in an exit interview to express your insights, feedback and memories.

Learn more about our volunteer programs

Qualifications

In Home Support

  • Passionate about helping a family affected by cancer
  • Must have one year of childcare experience – Moms, Dads & Grandparents may qualify with family childcare experience
  • Must be a minimum of 18 years of age
  • Must be able to present a current CPR and First Aid certification
  • An approved background check/ vulnerable sector screening
  • Can commit 4 hours per week of support for a 6 month period
  • All In-home volunteer angels must be COVID-19 vaccinated
  • Must reside in Ontario

Virtual Support

  • Passionate about helping a family affected by cancer
  • Must be a minimum of 16 years of age
  • Must have 100+ hours of childcare experience
  • An approved background check/ vulnerable sector screening
  • Can commit 2 hours per week of support for a 6 month period
  • Must reside in Canada

Training

All volunteer angels undergo a 4+ hour specialized virtual training program that includes:

  • Child Life training skills 
  • Grief and bereavement training
  • Nana’s for Nankind, a training program that gives mothers and grandmothers the opportunity to volunteer if they have no experience outside of their family 

Sign-up to volunteer today

Choose the volunteer position that you would like to apply for:

  • In-Home Volunteer
  • Virtual Activity Volunteer
  • Virtual Homework Volunteer
  • Auxiliary Volunteer (admin/ fundraising/ driver)
Apply Now

Hear from Jenni, a Volunteer Angel

  • I’m truly honoured to work alongside so many fantastic people at Nankind and to be able to have met so many amazing families that I have worked with. Being a part of this community means being able to provide children and families a safe space to share their thoughts and emotions and to express themselves through play/creative arts.

    Brianna, volunteer angel

  • Volunteering with Nankind has been a good fit for me. The chance to support people in meaningful ways is really fulfilling. It’s a humbling experience to see families showing such strength and positivity during their cancer journey.

    Geraldine, volunteer angel

  • Volunteering at Nankind is a huge gift and joy in my life. Visiting my family has quickly become the highlight of my week. The radiating love and courage felt in their home inspires me. I am so grateful to be a part of this special community.

    Claire, volunteer angel

  • Volunteering with Nankind has been a true pleasure. Over the past year, I have been able to build a valuable and enriching relationship with the family through the laughs shared, moments spent together, learning about their cancer journey, and sharing different parts about our lives.

    Angelo, volunteer angel