At CHATS, our volunteers are truly at the centre of everything we do and when we look across the organization, each group tells its own story of growth, resilience, and connection. We now have close to 300 active volunteers. This is an amazing increase since the Volunteer Program Refresh, and you can really feel that energy across the organization.  

• Our Visiting Program, now our largest volunteer team with 60 dedicated individuals, reflects the changing face of modern volunteering: about half are students, newcomers or full-time workers seeking flexible ways to give back and 80% have joined within the past five years.  

• The Social & Wellness volunteers remain one of our most stable groups, with 30% serving for a decade or longer – a reflection of the strong relationships they have built with clients and Outreach Coordinators.  

• The Adult Day Programs are rebuilding after the pandemic and currently have 45 volunteers, including placement students.  

• Transportation volunteers, a team of 43, continue to show up in flexible, impactful ways, and we’re especially grateful for the 30% of drivers who are over the age of 75.  

• And our 23 Meals on Wheels volunteers have shifted from a mostly casual group to a dedicated and committed core group with 40% giving their time for more than five years. 

All this matters because behind every number is real impact. 

Last year alone, volunteers contributed over 18,000 hours. That is the equivalent of nine full-time staff positions, and more than half of those hours were in direct client service. These hours represent thousands of moments of connection: meals delivered, clients driven, phone calls made, programs supported.  Volunteers don’t just help us deliver services – they make it possible. 

Understanding the Volunteer Experience  

We also heard directly from volunteers through our recent Volunteer Experience Survey, where 45% responded. What they shared was encouraging: 95% would recommend volunteering with CHATS, they rated their experience at 4.42 out of 5 and the majority feel informed, supported, and recognized.  

We also heard where we can grow, so we have started deeper conversations. We are also reviewing recognition approaches for short-term volunteers because every type of service matters and we want to acknowledge that in meaningful ways. 

At the end of the day, everything comes back to relationships. The relationships volunteers have with clients. The relationships they build with staff. And their relationship with CHATS as an organization. These relationships shape the volunteer experience and all of us play a role in supporting and strengthening them. 

If you are interested in volunteering with CHATS, visit https://chats.on.ca/volunteer/ or email us at volunteer@chats.on.ca.