At FoodShare we value the folks who choose to volunteer their time with us and believe volunteering should not simply be a source of unpaid labour, but a mutually beneficial arrangement for both the individual and the organization. We offer volunteer opportunities for Individuals and Groups. We embrace the values and guiding principles set out in the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement.

Things to know

  • Anyone under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or a teacher. Youth who are ages 14 through 18 must have a permission form and photo release form signed by a parent or guardian.
  • All volunteers are required to read and consent to our Code of Conduct as well as our Pledge of Privacy and Confidentiality and Duty to Report.
  • FoodShare is a scent-free environment. Please refrain from using, wearing and bringing scented products and materials when volunteering with FoodShare.
  • Food allergy warning: Our kitchen at 120C Industry St. handles nuts and other common allergens.

Individual volunteering

Volunteer opportunities vary throughout the calendar year. Almost all opportunities occur between 9am-5pm from Monday to Friday, save for a few special events. You might help with:

  • gardening at a FoodShare site or other community location
  • onsite composting
  • support food literacy workshops in schools
  • supporting special events
  • office support

In order to learn about volunteer opportunities as they arise, please sign up for our Email List by filling out our Volunteering Intake Form. Through this form you will be required to read and consent to our Individual Volunteer Manual, Code of Conduct and Pledge of Privacy and Confidentiality and Duty to Report. You can unsubscribe at any time.

We look forward to meeting you!

Group volunteering

We welcome volunteer groups for various activities where your team will enjoy a fun, meaningful experience while learning more about FoodShare’s work. In order to sign up for a volunteering day, please complete our Group Volunteer Intake Form and we will reply to your inquiry.

We’re delighted to offer volunteering experience for your group and as it requires some staff time to organize and facilitate group visits we ask that you consider donating:

  • $10 to $20 per person for nonprofits/community groups
  • minimum $50 per person for institutions, corporate or governmental groups

Tax receipts can be issued upon request for donations of $20 and over to individuals and to organizations who donate by cheque or credit card. We cannot issue one tax receipt for collected group donations. Payment may be made by cash, cheque, VISA or Mastercard.

All visiting volunteers will be required to read and consent to our Code of Conduct.

Available group volunteer opportunities

Farmer for a Day at BCI (May – Nov)

  • Location: Burnhamthorpe CI, 500 The East Mall
  • Visit our School Grown program where we have turned an underutilized school yard into a vibrant and productive three-acre urban farm! Our School Grown sites offer paid jobs and school credit opportunities to students farming at their school! Volunteers help out with weeding, watering, planting, and harvesting while learning about the benefits of school gardens.
  • Required Donation: We require a minimum donation of $50 per person for corporate and governmental groups. All donations go directly to hiring youth from the community to learn urban farming and many other skills. The community really appreciates your support and contribution to investing in our youth! Please contact us for further information.
  • Workshop for a fee: Educational, facilitated workshop where groups learn about the program and various aspects of the farm while doing various activities such as composting, tree planting, garden maintenance, planting, harvesting (depending on season).
  • See Volunteer Activity Details for more info on days, times, hours etc.

Visit, Volunteer and Learn at Flemo Farm (May – Nov)

  • Location: 150 Grenoble Drive, North York, ON
  • Flemo Farm is a community-developed initiative in Flemingdon Park that has transformed an underutilized grass area into a vibrant space growing highly nutritious and healthy food for the community. This space is a welcoming, nature-focused and modern urban farm that engages the community in the growing of food, increases access to affordable high quality produce, and provides an entrepreneurial development opportunity for residents to operate micro-farm businesses through the Community Farmer program. Volunteers help out with weeding, watering, composting, planting, maintaining and harvesting while learning about our innovative zero-waste and environmentally sustainable food production system.
  • Required Donation: We require a minimum donation of $50 per person for corporate and governmental groups. All donations go directly to capacity building in the community for ecological urban farming skills and the community compost exchange program. Flemo Farm appreciates your support and contribution.
  • Workshop for a fee: At Flemo Farm we can do an educational workshop for your group on planting, soil management, pest and disease control, composting and environmental sustainability, food security, and plant diversity, etc. Workshops cost a min of $1000 or $100 per person.
  • See Volunteer Activity Details for more info on days, times, hours etc.

Support our Therapeutic Garden space at CAMH

  • Location: CAMH, 1001 Queen St W.
  • Visit the Sunshine Garden at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. This program uses horticulture as a way to provide clients with transferable skills, like teamwork and entrepreneurship. Many of the participants say that it also helps to build self-confidence and restores a sense of hope and purpose to their day–to–day lives. Receive a tour of the outdoor growing space and new greenhouse and get your hands dirty in the garden beds.
  • Required Donation: We require a minimum donation of $50 per person for corporate and governmental groups. All donations go directly to Sunshine Garden programming. The community really appreciates your support and contribution to investing in our CAMH clients!
  • See Volunteer Activity Details for more info on days, times, hours etc.

Join Our Board of Directors!

FoodShare Toronto is looking for people that are interested in helping to guide and shape the future of our work by joining our Board of Directors.

About FoodShare

FoodShare is a food justice organization, advocating for the right to food, and working to challenge the systemic barriers that keep people from accessing the food they need to thrive. We support community-led food initiatives and work alongside communities most affected by poverty and food insecurity: Black and Indigenous people, people of colour, people with disabilities, and folks living on a low income. Whether it is supporting urban farms, subsidizing local produce markets or coordinating community kitchens, all of our work is about folks accessing food on their own terms. The Board provides strategic oversight and governance. It does not engage in day-to-day operations. At this stage in our growth we are particularly interested in welcoming directors who bring depth in financial management, governance, law or related experience–along with a genuine connection and service orientation to the communities that we work alongside.

Representation Matters

Black and Indigenous people are over-represented in food insecurity and poverty statistics, but are significantly under-represented in leadership within community-based food organizations. We believe that to authentically do our work alongside Black and Indigenous communities we must ensure Black and Indigenous representation at all levels of our organization including our Board of Directors.

Board Membership Commitments

  • Term: Terms are renewed annually, we are ideally looking for a minimum two-year commitment for new members.
  • Time Commitment: Members commit to an average of 4-6 hours per month, including attendance at board meetings and providing guidance and support through committee work and other duties.
  • Meeting Schedule: Board meetings typically take place on Monday evenings starting at 6:00pm Eastern time. Committee meetings may vary.
  • Remuneration: This is an unpaid, volunteer position.

How We Work Together

  • Engagement: Directors are asked to come prepared, demonstrate curiosity, and lean into relevant discussion rather than hovering around its edges
  • Interaction: Directors are asked to listen, build on and challenge ideas constructively. Directors are encouraged not to interrupt, derail conversations, or retreat into silence.
  • Impact We are seeking board directors whose participation strengthens debate, sharpens judgement, and helps the board fulfill its governance responsibilities with confidence and care. Directors are asked to bring their whole experience to the table and to measure their contribution by the quality of the board’s collective thinking, not the volume of their individual voice.

What You’ll Gain

With this position you can have a meaningful impact on communities across Toronto, further your professional development by learning about a diversity of departments within a Canadian Charity, build a legacy alongside others who have made their mark on our organization, collaborate around shared values, and personal continuous learning with a diverse group of individuals who deeply care about the mission to expand food access across the City of Toronto.

Relevant Experience

In addition to lived, learned, or loved experience with food insecurity, we are looking for candidates who can bring experience in one or more of the following areas and who have a connection to the city of Toronto:

  • Charity / Non-profit Leadership / Governance
  • Finance / Accounting (CPA or similar experience)
  • Legal / Charity Law
  • Sector relevance (e.g., housing, community health)
  • Fundraising
  • Government relations/Knowledge mobilization

Application Process

To apply, please share:

  1. Letter of interest One-page letter that tells us:
  • Why you are interested in joining FoodShare’s board and how you feel you could contribute to our work in one of the areas we’ve outlined
  • Who you are and what connects you to the issues that FoodShare is working on, your current connection to FoodShare (if any), relevant skills and experience.
  1. Brief Bio: 50 -100 word bio about yourself

A resume is not required or expected. Please send your letter and bio addressed to the Board Nominations and Orientation Committee through: hr@foodshare.net

Recruitment Timeline:

  • Deadline for applications
    • The deadline to be considered for nomination as part of our 2026/2027 Board Slate at our June 24, 2026 Annual General Meeting is Thursday April 30th. Applications received after that date will be gladly reviewed for future consideration.
  • Recruitment Process
    • The Nominations and Orientation Committee will review all applications and select candidates to interview on May 5 & 6 2026, and May 11 & 12 2026 in the evening.
    • Following those interviews selected candidates will be presented to our board for inclusion in the slate of candidates confirmed at our Annual General Meeting on June 24, 2026.

Accommodation Requests: If you require accommodation when navigating the application process, please contact: hr@foodshare.net. If you’re interested in learning more before applying, we’d be happy to connect you directly with our Executive Director, Matt Johnstone for a short exploratory call, please let us know and we can make arrangements through hr@foodshare.net.

To learn more about FoodShare, take a look at our Audited Financial Statements & Impact Reports, Strategic Plan, Food Justice Statement, Body Liberation and Fat Acceptance Statement and other resources.