Where can my teenager get the 40 volunteer hours?
Every Ontario high school student needs 40 hours of volunteering to graduate, and can start in the summer before grade 9. These places take teenagers. Check with the school that an activity counts before starting. Ontario’s rule.
We found 17. The ones with a clear way in come first.
Toronto Public Library - Volunteering (Leading to Reading, Teen Councils, Seniors E-Connect)
TPL volunteer roles for teens: one-to-one reading help for children (Leading to Reading), Teen Councils, and helping older adults with technology (Seniors E-Connect).
Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto - Mentoring for children and youth
The wait for an assessment is about 2 to 3 months; in Rexdale, Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough a match usually takes 6 months to 1 year because of a shortage of mentors.
Matches children and youth with trained adult volunteer mentors through the Ignite Mentoring Programs and the Little By Little Program.
For: Children aged 7 to 16 whose parent or guardian lives in a Toronto 'M' postal code (or who are referred by another agency); youth 16 and over can apply on their own; volunteer mentors must be 18 or older and give about 2 hours a week.
Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know
FoodShare Toronto - Teen volunteers (ages 14+ with a parent permission form)
Almost all shifts are Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, plus a few special events.
Volunteer with FoodShare: gardening at FoodShare sites, onsite composting, helping with food literacy workshops in schools, special events and office support.
For: Ages 14 to 18 can volunteer with a permission form and photo release form signed by a parent or guardian; anyone under 14 must come with a parent, guardian or teacher.
Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know
Second Harvest - Volunteer hours for high school students (age 16+)
Roles run year-round; for example Food Sort Team Leader shifts are 3 hours, Tuesday to Thursday.
Volunteer with Canada's largest food rescue charity: help drivers distribute rescued food, support the warehouse, or sort food.
For: High school students aged 16 and over who need volunteer hours to graduate (event volunteers must be 19+).
Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know
SickKids - High School Volunteer Program
The Hospital for Sick Children's high-school stream: a July or August summer program (3-hour weekday shifts) and a semester co-op for Grade 11-12 students.
Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know
Toronto Zoo - Zoo Ambassador Student Volunteers
Toronto Zoo's student volunteer program for Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18), minimum 30 hours a year including a two-day March training.
Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know
BGC St. Alban's Club - Free teen drop-in, homework help and youth volunteering
Youth Hub runs Monday to Friday 3 to 6 PM; the Youth Volunteer Program runs on a seasonal basis.
A BGC (Boys and Girls Club) at 843 Palmerston Ave with a free after-school Youth Hub, free basketball, skateboarding and homework help, and a Youth Volunteer Program where teens earn community service hours helping with children aged 5 to 12.
For: Youth Hub is for grade 7 and up, Learn On homework help and tutoring for grade 6 and up, basketball for ages 14 to 17, skateboarding for ages 12+; club membership is free; the Youth Volunteer Program does not state a minimum age.
Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know
City of Toronto - Community Recreation Volunteers
Volunteer roles at City community recreation centres (program support, swim/camp assistance, special events) open to ages 14+ and accepted toward the 40 hours.
Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know
Habitat for Humanity GTA
Affordable homeownership for working families across the GTA: no down payment (except a small one at 355 Coxwell), a first mortgage sized so housing costs start at no more than 32% of household income and a Habitat second mortgage bridging the gap; 600+ families housed in 26 communities since 1988 and 100,000+ volunteer hours a year.
Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know
Habitat for Humanity GTA - ReStore & Build Volunteers
Volunteer shifts in Habitat GTA ReStores and on build sites across the GTA, explicitly marketed as a way to fulfil community involvement hours.
Toronto & GTA · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) - ROMKids camp volunteers and Youth Cabinet (ages 15 to 21)
The page still lists the March Break 2026 and Summer Club 2026 ROMKids volunteer applications; dates for the next round are not posted. The Youth Cabinet runs from January or February to June or July.
Students help instructors run ROMKids children's camps at the museum during March Break and summer, and youth aged 15 to 21 can join the ROM Youth Cabinet to plan youth projects and events (volunteer hours given if needed).
For: ROMKids volunteer roles are described as ideal for high school and post-secondary students (minimum age not stated; most other ROM roles need volunteers 18+); the Youth Cabinet is for ages 15 to 21, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, meeting weekly in person for 1 to 2 hours.
Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know
Scarborough Health Network - Volunteer Services (Summer Pathfinder for high-school students)
Hospital volunteer program with a Summer Pathfinder stream for high-school students (15+) and a Real-World Experience stream for post-secondary students (18+).
Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know
YMCA of Greater Toronto - Free youth programs (Teen Nights, mentorship, youth leadership)
Free youth programs including Teen Nights, Black Achievers mentorship for high school students, newcomer youth leadership, entrepreneurship and money-skills workshops; the Youth Leadership Development program also lets teens collect volunteer hours for school.
For: Youth in the Greater Toronto Area: Teen Nights ages 13 to 18, newcomer youth leadership ages 13 to 24, money skills ages 14 to 24, entrepreneurship ages 15 to 24, Black Achievers for Black high school students, and Youth Leadership Development ages 11 to 18.
Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know
City of Toronto - Toronto History Museums Youth Volunteers
Volunteer roles for high-school youth aged 14-18 at the City's history museums, promoted as earning hours toward community service.
Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know
Daily Bread Food Bank - Volunteer hours for high school students (Take Action Project food drives)
High school students earn community service hours by running a food drive for Daily Bread: every 25 non-perishable food items collected counts as 1 volunteer hour.
For: High school students (no minimum age stated for food drives); regular warehouse shifts are typically 18+, ages 11 to 14 may join public food sort events only with a parent or guardian, school groups in grades 6 to 12 can book Tuesday mornings, and club or faith groups need members aged 15+.
Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know
Unity Health Toronto - Student Volunteers (St. Michael's, St. Joseph's, Providence)
Student volunteer programs at three Toronto hospital sites, with summer (July-August) and year-round streams; hours confirmation letters and school forms signed.
Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know
Volunteer Toronto - High School Volunteers page
Volunteer Toronto's page for high-school students: searchable opportunities, info sessions (incl. at TPL branches), an annual volunteer fair and 1-on-1 advisor calls.
Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know
Which ones have closed?
These have closed for now. Many open again every year, so ask them when the next round opens. The way to reach each one is right there.
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital - Teen volunteers (client programs)
Closed on 2 October 2026
Volunteer with children and youth with disabilities in hospital programs such as aquatics, robotics, music and arts, nursery schools and recreation, during the school year or at summer camps.
For: Teens and adults; minimum age depends on the role: Aquatics and Robotics 15+, Music and Arts and Offsite Nursery Schools 16+, Bloorview School and Therapeutic Recreation 17+; school-year volunteers commit 3 hours a week.
Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know
North York General Hospital - High School Volunteer Program (ages 14 to 17)
Closed right now
The High School program is currently full and applications are closed; the page says to stay tuned for when they reopen. Volunteer onboarding generally takes 6 to 8 weeks.
A year-round hospital volunteer program for high school students at North York General Hospital.
For: Students aged 14 to 17, and older students enrolled full-time in high school; the general adult program is for ages 18+.
Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know
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