Volunteering is widely seen as an act of kindness, something that people do out of the goodness of their hearts for the benefit of others. And for good reason! At its core, volunteering is something we do willingly and without an expectation of reward. Often motivated by intrinsic reasons such as personal conviction, curiosity, or a desire to help others, volunteers contribute numerous hours to bettering our communities in a variety of ways.
Statistics Canada provides great insights into the Canadian volunteering landscape. In 2018, seventy-nine per cent of Canadians over the age of fifteen reported volunteering, whether as part of an organization or independently. Among the volunteer sectors, hospitals and religious institutions saw the greatest number of volunteer hours, with volunteers supplying an average of 111 and 110 hours per year, respectively. Older Canadians were less likely to volunteer, but the older folks who did partake contributed more time on average. The most common types of volunteering involve fundraising and event organization, which makes sense since the two often go hand-in-hand.
Notably, younger people were more likely to volunteer for the purpose of building their resumes or otherwise satisfying graduation or employment requirements. This comes as no surprise to many of us law students who relied on our volunteer experience when applying to law school or for jobs. Meanwhile, older individuals often mention support for social and political causes, religious beliefs or opportunities to put their skills to use as their primary reasons for volunteering.
Despite the fact that some volunteer primarily for personal gain, the facts surrounding volunteering in Canada are pretty awe-inspiring. Volunteering to help those in need breeds community cohesion and provides opportunities to meet new people of diverse backgrounds and experiences. And if you’re not convinced by the qualitative benefits of volunteering, maybe an examination of its economic value is in order. According to Volunteer Vibe, a blog run by Volunteer Canada, volunteering contributed roughly $56 billion dollars to the Canadian economy in 2017 (assuming the volunteer sector’s average wage of $27 per hour is used to represent volunteer work). This number does not take into account non-profits that rely on donations, which, according to Volunteer Vibe, contribute an additional $30 billion to the Canadian GDP.
Of course, it doesn’t need to be said that the work volunteering produces itself is incredibly valuable, whether it comes in the form of distributing hot meals from a soup kitchen, raising money for housing initiatives, or spending time at retirement homes engaging with seniors. People need to eat, sleep, and socialize. Volunteering helps fulfill these important needs for many people across the country. Having volunteered consistently over the past several months at the Fort York Food Bank downtown, I can confirm just how great of an experience it can be.
In my opinion, the best part of volunteering is that its benefits are not limited to the recipients of services provided by volunteers. Research suggests that volunteering has both physical and mental health benefits for those engaged in volunteer work. Longitudinal studies, controlling for a variety of factors such as health habits, social support and physical functioning, reveal a statistically significant reduction in mortality among those who volunteer often. Further, there exists a positive relationship between volunteering, psychological wellbeing, and life satisfaction. This makes intuitive sense. Volunteering provides an opportunity to socialize and contribute meaningfully, giving the volunteer a sense of purpose. Interestingly, for those who are less socially integrated, the boon that volunteering brings to their psychological wellbeing is greater than that of their socially integrated counterparts. While it certainly should not be prescribed as a catch-all remedy by a competent medical professional, volunteering seems like a good idea for those who want a head start on preserving their long-term health.
With all this being said, underlying our national culture of community comity is a concerning trend. Many volunteer organizations are facing a steep shortage of volunteers despite a growing demand for the services they provide. Additionally, ever-increasing costs of living, failures of our governments to adequately fund social services, and increased immigration without adequate support for newcomers are making it increasingly difficult for organizations to sustain their services. For example, the South Surrey & White Rock Meals on Wheels ceased operations after fifty-one years in 2022 due to increasing costs and a deficit of volunteers. The organization was relied upon by many low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities who otherwise have difficulties obtaining consistent meals. According to British Columbia-based Volunteer Victoria, among those over fifty-five surveyed in 2021-2022, thirty-one per cent reduced their volunteering in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On top of a lack of volunteers and increasing costs of service provision, many organizations are struggling due to increasing service demands. Across the country, local food banks have been subject to the same economic and social forces that have made Canadians increasingly reliant on them to fill their pantries. The Fort York Food Bank (FYFB), where I volunteer, is one such example. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FYFB served approximately a thousand clients each week, a figure that has quadrupled as of February 2025.
While the FYFB has been able to sustain itself in the face of increasing demand with its large team of volunteers and generous donations, other locations have taken unfortunate steps to sustain themselves. Facing an inability to satisfy increasing community demands for food, the Ste. Louise Outreach Centre of Peel Food Bank in Brampton began turning away international students as a means of ensuring adequate supplies for Canadians. Targeting international students is certainly not a solution to these issues. However, it is notable that the Toronto-based Daily Bread Food Bank reported an increase in usage of their associated food banks of sixty-three per cent from July 2022 to June 2023. Absent serious plans to address the state of our economy and the root causes of such insecurity, there is no reason to think that this number will decline in the near future.
With all of this in mind, it may be time to consider getting involved in the community if you are able to. Volunteering is crucial for our communities. It brings people together and helps to make sure that those in need are taken care of. It also helps provide a sense of purpose for those who partake and potentially even significant health benefits if done consistently. While it is clear that volunteering cannot be relied upon to address issues such as food insecurity or lack of affordable housing, it remains an important part of Canadian culture and should be embraced. So, get out there and volunteer if you can! There are plenty of organizations looking for an extra hand.
