Volunteer FAQ
- What’s a red vest and when do I become a Red Vest Volunteer?
- Where do I park?
- Can I volunteer for special events only?
- I need my 40 hours of community service, can I obtain these through City Kidz?
- Can I do my student co-op at City Kidz?
- How are volunteers assigned to a specific role?
- How can my youth group or small group get involved?
- I can only volunteer once a month, what is my best option?
What’s a red vest and when do I become a Red Vest Volunteer?
A red vest is worn by each qualified City Kidz volunteer on Saturdays and during official City Kidz initiatives and identifies the individual as an official volunteer with City Kidz. An applicant who has applied to be a City Kidz Volunteer becomes a Red Vest Volunteer when all of the following steps have been completed:
- Have attended a Saturday Tour and a New Volunteer Orientation meeting.
- Have completed the screening process: Volunteer Application, Interview, References and Police Check.
- Have completed training and a minimum of one month commitment to volunteer role.
Once each of the steps has been completed and on the approval of the Volunteer Department leadership, the volunteer will then participate in our Red Vest Graduation at our next All Team Meeting. This includes Saturday, Home Visit, and Administration Volunteers.
Where do I park?
City Kidz Theatre: (177 Sherman Ave. N)
City Kidz is located right down-town Hamilton. This means that parking is limited and is available either across from our theatre at a meter-parking lot, or street parking on some of our near by streets, please pay attention to street signs. Plan to come to City Kidz a little bit early to ensure you are able to find a parking spot.
City Kidz Head Office: (601 Burlington St E, Unit A)
City Kidz Head Offices are located on Burlington Street east of Wentworth St. and west of Birch Ave. Please park in the east parking lot where you should find a number of our Big Red Busses located.
Can I volunteer for special events only?
Yes, if you are currently restricted to the amount of time you can commit to City Kidz, volunteering at our special events is a great way to still get involved and be connected with what is happening at City Kidz. We ask that special event volunteers make a commitment to a minimum of one event per year.
I need my 40 hours of community service, can I obtain these through City Kidz?
Yes, volunteer hours will be granted for your community service hours; however, at City Kidz our core value is relationship, in all we do, we want to ensure that we are building relationships with our children, volunteers and staff. We ask that you commit to City Kidz beyond your 40 hours to volunteer for a semester (equivalent to 4 months). This will not only give you a greater understanding of the value you bring to City Kidz but also the opportunity to build great relationships and make a lasting difference at City Kidz.
Can I do my student co-op at City Kidz?
Yes, we are always accepting of co-op students at City Kidz and recognize that you add great value to our organization. If you are interested in doing a City Kidz Co-op, please determine which of the following areas you would be interested in doing your co-op. Please correspond directly with the Co-ordinator you are interested in doing your co-op with. Co-op students will be accepted to their co-op placement after an interview has taken place and the co-ordinator has accepted you into your co-op placement at City Kidz.
Saturday Program
Co-ordinator: Nathan Ellis nathan@citykidz.ca
Marketing & Special Events
Co-ordinator: Christina Birmingham christina@citykidz.ca
Reception & Administrative Specific
Co-ordinator: Betsy Abraham betsy@citykidz.ca
Volunteer Program Development and Administration
Co-ordinator: Sarah Porter sarah@citykidz.ca
Kinder Kidz Program
Co-ordinator: Heather Moyer heather@citykidz.ca
Home Visit Program
Co-ordinator: Carley Ellis carley@citykidz.ca
Facility and Maintenance Specific
Co-ordinator: Robert McCulloch robert@citykidz.ca
Creative & Graphic Design
Jeremy Curry jeremy@citykidz.ca
How are volunteers assigned to a specific role?
Volunteers are assigned to specific roles through evaluating the applicants volunteer form, an informal assesment of the volunteer’s personality and giftings, along with the reality of current needs of City Kidz. The volunteer will then be assigned to a specific role. If the role does not fit the volunteer, guidance will be given by the Volunteer Co-ordinator on another position that may fit the volunteer’s needs and giftings.
How can my youth group or small group get involved?
Yes, we strongly encourage groups to volunteer at City Kidz. This can be done through volunteering at one of our special events or participating in our City Kidz Saturday Group Volunteer Experience. To discover which option is best for you and your group please click here: Special Events City Kidz Saturday Group Volunteer Experience
I can only volunteer once a month, what is my best option?
If you can commit to volunteer at City Kidz, your best option is to either assist on a Saturday or at Special Events. If you are interested in volunteering on Saturday, your best suited positions would be, logistics, first aid assistant, or team member. Otherwise, there are many special event volunteer opportunities to choose from.
