Volunteer

March 3, 2025

Seeking Volunteer Board Members 

About Sheena’s Place
Sheena’s Place is a unique community that provides high quality, low barrier, and timely support to individuals with eating disorders and related mental health challenges. Our participants benefit from a range of group-based services aimed at increasing their capacity to cope and further their recovery. We also excel at providing training and increasing awareness and understanding of eating disorders throughout Ontario. We envision a future where every individual has an accepting relationship with their body.

About the Role 

The board of directors provides strategic oversight to Sheena’s Place, comprised of individuals who care deeply about improving lives. Each member brings their unique set of experiences, skills, knowledge, and perspectives to create a collective forum for sound organizational governance. Directors are unpaid volunteers.

We are currently seeking to add board members, who identify as a member of equity-seeking groups and/or as Indigenous, to further increase the range of perspectives within the group.

We are seeking individuals who: 

• are passionate about improving the quality of life for others in our community, connects with our vision and mission, and aligns with our values;
• will be fully “engaged”, as demonstrated by coming to meetings prepared, ready to listen/ask questions/share & challenge, encouraging of others to engage, consistently attend to committee work, fundraising, attendance at SP events, and participate in advocacy;
• is driven to deliver impact and advance SP’s strategy;
• can delicately balance innovation and new ideas with prudence, thoughtfulness and sound risk assessment/management;
• is keen on learning more about Sheena’s Place, its potential and how EDs fit into the broader mental health space;
• is strongly committed to the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and objectives, will work diligently to live by the values associated with those goals, while recognizing that one is always learning and will make mistakes;
• defaults to a group interaction style of collaboration and open communication;
• is capable and willing to share their expertise drawn from their experience with one or more of the following (bolded categories are currently prioritized):
• is willing and able to attend board meetings approximately every other month, and committee meetings as required.
  • Finance/Investing/Accounting 
  • Fundraising 
  • Human Resources
  • Law 
  • Lived Experience with Eating Disorders 
  • Marketing/Communications
  • Nonprofit Governance;

• and finally, upon occasion, will willingly delve into necessary operational aspects of SP when called upon. 

What you can expect as a board member: 

• the opportunity to contribute to efforts that make a meaningful difference in the lives of those with EDs, their loved ones, and others who may be susceptible to an ED;
• the opportunity to support a dedicated, hardworking and talented staff team;
• and the opportunity to work with, to be heard and valued by others who meet the criteria outlined above.

How to apply: 

Please forward your CV with a letter of interest to John Choi, Executive Director, Sheena’s Place at jchoi@sheenasplace.org, prior to March 21, 2024. 

May 16, 2025

Seeking In-Person Support Volunteers

Sheena’s Place – Supporting Individuals with Eating Disorders

Are you passionate about creating a welcoming and supportive environment for individuals seeking help? Sheena’s Place, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and community for those affected by eating disorders, is looking for compassionate and organized volunteers to join our front desk team.

About Sheena’s Place

Sheena’s Place supports folks aged 17+ experiencing eating disorders/disordered eating, and their families and loved ones. We provide free group-based programs from a welcoming, non-institutional setting, and are currently offering our programs online and in-person. Many communities are underserved in eating disorder care, particularly racialized and BIPOC people, disabled people, 2SLGBTQ+ people, and people in larger bodies. We value these lived experiences as part of the skill-set and knowledge base that you bring as a volunteer and are committed to prioritizing volunteers from these underserved communities. Folks must reside in Ontario at the time that they access our services.

Role Overview

As an In-Person Support Volunteer, you will be the first point of contact for visitors at Sheena’s Place. Your warm and professional demeanor will help create a safe and supportive atmosphere for all who walk through our doors.

In-Person Support Volunteer Responsibilities Include

• Greet group members and visitors to Sheena’s Place with kindness and professionalism.
• Answer phone calls and provide general information about Sheena’s Place programs and services.
• Assist Registrar with administrative tasks such as attendance, data entry and maintaining the reception area.
• Ensure the front of house and kitchen are tidy, organized, and welcoming for all visitors.
• Direct visitors to appropriate staff members or resources as needed.
• Uphold confidentiality and sensitivity when interacting with group members.
• Possibility of conducting one-on-one information sessions with prospective group members
• Possibility of supporting Sheena’s Place staff with community events.

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent organization skills and attention to detail.
• Reliable and punctual.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive topics with care.
• Comfort working in an environment where eating disorders and mental health are discussed.
• Strong ability to support a diverse client community, often developed through training or lived experience related to equity, anti-racism, and anti-oppression.
• Capacity to support participants in distress, engaging in distress intervention and de-escalation. With ability to identify when more supports are needed.
• Excellent writing and typing skills.
• Previous administrative or customer service experience is an asset but not required.
• Prior experience in the mental health sector is a bonus!

Commitment

• Available from Tuesday-Thursday for 1 OR 2 shifts a week (3-4 hours between 10am-8pm)
• Minimum of 6 months

What We Offer

• Training and ongoing support to ensure you feel confident in your role.
• Opportunity to develop knowledge and insights about eating disorders
• To make a significant contribution to creating accessible mental health support services
• Opportunity to work along side mental health professionals in supporting the Eating Disorder community
• A chance to make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals seeking help.
• Experience in a supportive, non-judgmental workplace focused on mental health

Requirements:

• Volunteers must be a minimum of 18 years of age

• Volunteers will be asked to submit a Vulnerable Sector Police Record Check prior to their participation in groups

• Volunteers need to be able to commute to Sheena’s Place (87 Spadina Road, Toronto, Ontario) 1-2 times a week.

• Many people become interested in volunteering with Sheena’s Place as part of their journey towards health. We ask, however, that group members wait one full year following recovery (which includes using services at Sheena’s Place), before exploring volunteer opportunities with us.

How to Apply

If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity, please send your resume and a brief cover letter to atudor@sheenasplace.org  with the subject line “In-Person Support Volunteer Application.”

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.

Sheena’s Place sincerely thanks all applicants for their expressed interest in this opportunity, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Sheena’s Place is committed to having a workforce that is reflective of the diversity of the City of Toronto in general and of our participants in particular. We strongly encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including but not limited to: racialized persons, Indigenous persons, persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities, persons of all sexual orientations or gender identities. We value the contributions that each person brings, and are committed to ensuring full and equal participation for all in our community.  

Sheena’s Place is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC), Sheena’s Place will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process to applicants with disabilities. During any stage of the recruitment process, please notify our Program Manager of the nature of any accommodation(s) you may require. Any information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially. 

Join us in fostering a safe and welcoming community for those navigating their journey toward healing and recovery.