• Sharing time, interests and hobbies with people who have an developmental disability
• Committees/Board of Directors
• Offering transportation
• Participating in fundraising at Empower Simcoe Foundation Bingos
• Assisting with fundraising events like our annual Fashion Show and Golf Tournament
• Becoming a peer through our Youth Programs
• Helping young children and families at the EarlyON Child and Family Centre

For high school students who want to get involved helping raise childhood cancer awareness and/or funds in their schools and communities. 

If you are a high school student looking to give back to your community and get volunteer hours, we need you for our OPACC Golden Hearts Youth Council! ​ 

Benefits: 

• ​ Get community service volunteer hours from OPACC and OPACC partner organizations 
• Be notified of new volunteer opportunities in your community 
• OPACC can promote your fundraiser, project, campaign through our network 
• Looks great on your resume for work or school/scholarships 
• References for work/school 
• Give back to the childhood cancer community and help other kids in a meaningful way 
• Special thank-you perks for our youth volunteers
  
• Option to become an OPACC Board Member at age 18 to continue your involvement more formally 

Examples of how you can help: 

• At community events 
• With OPACC programs (i.e. Comfy Cases, Million Dollar Smiles, Courage Capes sewing events, Parent Liaisons in hospitals, etc.)
• Running a childhood cancer awareness campaign at your school and/or in your community, especially in September (Childhood Cancer Awareness Month). Some ideas include: organizing a Flag Raising or Proclamation at City Hall; doing a yellow shirt day at school; or doing morning announcements in September about childhood cancer facts 
• Doing fundraisers like organizing a Kaps4Kids event at school; selling foods or crafts at school with funds going to OPACC; putting together a fun walk; or doing a third-party fundraiser to benefit OPACC 
• Creating cards (i.e. Valentines or Christmas cards) or organizing a gift drive to distribute to kids in hospitals 
• Do chalk drawings with inspiring and/or awareness messages outside of a children's hospital or other local community centre 
• Doing a social media campaign to raise awareness about OPACC and childhood cancer like making a TikTok video, Instagram post, etc. (subject to approval) ​ 

Opportunities are available throughout Ontario. There are many ways to help out independently, with friends, teammates, and with classmates through a school club or initiative! ​ Time is flexible depending on what you want to do (self-directed projects), we also try to do monthly virtual drop-in meetings on Zoom to answer questions, brainstorm ideas, and support each other.

Across the country, the Gutsy Walk is made possible due to the time and talents shared by thousands of volunteers in their communities. With a collective goal to deliver our mission of finding a cure for Crohn's and colitis, we are greatly appreciative and thankful for our volunteers who have continuously led the Gutsy Walk to success each year.

As a Gutsy Walk Planning Committee Member, you’ll be working closely with a team of other volunteers to plan and promote your local Gutsy Walk. Your efforts in connecting and engaging your community—whatever your volunteer role with Gutsy Walk—will make a big impact in raising awareness about IBD and finding cures.
In particular, we’re looking for volunteers to support their local Gutsy Walk in the following ways:

• Community Outreach –inspire people to sign up and participate in the local Gutsy Walk
• Media Relations –connect with local media outlets to promote the Gutsy Walk
• Social Media –raise awareness about IBD and the Gutsy Walk through social media
• Fundraising –organize exciting fundraisers in your community
• Corporate Sponsorship –engage with local businesses to promote donations of sponsorship and gifts in kind
• Stewardship –build relationships with Gutsy Walk participants and encourage engagement

Volunteers would be required to provide support to individuals on a helpline or chat service who have experienced sexual trauma, violence and or assault. A 30 hour training course and interview is to be completed before starting on the helpline and chat service.