Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers play a vital role in helping us achieve our mission. Together, we can make an even bigger impact in our community!

In 2025, 345 people donated a total of 11,604 hours to Bissell! There are a variety of ways you can get involved too!

Ongoing Opportunities | Group Volunteering | Events
Project-based Opportunities | Court-Ordered Community Service | Practicums

Benefits of Volunteering with Bissell

• Work Experience: We can provide a reference after 3+ months of volunteering
• 25% Thrift Shop Discount
• Flexible Scheduling: Use the MyImpact app (available on iOS and Android) to manage your shifts
• Skill Development: Access the same training as Bissell staff
• Sense of Purpose: Contribute meaningfully to your community

Ongoing Opportunities

Community Income Tax Volunteer

Help provide financial stability by completing basic tax returns remotely for individuals and families with modest incomes. By volunteering your time, you ensure vulnerable community members can access essential government benefits and subsidies.

Data Entry Volunteer – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum of Services Program

Support adults living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder by digitizing essential case notes for the FASS program. Your accuracy in data entry ensures high-quality documentation, allowing our team to focus on intensive advocacy and care.

Group Volunteering

Groups of up to 10 people at a time are welcome to volunteer and help us meet our mission. Detailed information is coming soon, but you can see our general availability below:

Food Services

Help us eliminate food insecurities by maintaining kitchen cleanliness and safety standards.

• Insight: Typical group shifts are Fridays, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.

Thrift Shop

Support our social enterprise at our 188 Ave NW location.

• Insight: Opportunities generally available Fridays or Saturdays, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.

Events

Regular events include: Coldest Night of the Year (February), Tushies and Tummies diaper and formula drive (May), National Indigenous Peoples Day (June), Festive Toy Drive (November/December), Festive Sort (November/December)

National Indigenous Day Celebration Volunteers

Help honour Indigenous cultures, traditions, and contributions in our community by volunteering at our annual National Indigenous Day celebration.

Court-Ordered Community Service Hours

Bissell Centre welcomes volunteers completing court-ordered community service hours. We offer placements in Food Services and our Thrift Shop, seven days a week.

Food Services

Location: 10527 96 St

Deep cleaning of kitchen, organizing pantry items, storing donations, food prep, washing dishes, and other kitchen duties.

Thrift Shop

Location: 8818 118 Ave

Sorting donations, testing electronics, displaying goods for sale, breaking down boxes, tidying displays, shoveling the parking lot, and more.

Project-based Opportunities

No project based volunteer opportunities are available at this time. Notify Me of Future Projects

Practicums

We work with a variety of students from Grant MacEwan, University of Alberta, and NorQuest. Placements vary each term.

All students must:

• Be 18 or older
• Provide proof of at least two doses of the Covid-19 vaccination
• Provide a Vulnerable Sector Police Record Check that is less than six months old.

We also require the following:

• A current Affiliation Agreement (MOU) with the school
• Clarity on the number of hours required within the set period of time
• An outline of what the student is expected to learn
• Contact details of the student’s school supervisor

Please email engagement@bissellcentre.org if you have specific questions.