Childhood Cancer Youth Volunteer   Simcoe County 
Ontario Parents Advocating for Children with Cancer

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.