We are super grateful for the incredible 'Behind the Shield' volunteer community
that continues to enrich The Salvation Army Ontario Distribution Centre (ODC) with the joy of giving.
Thank you to the 3,600 volunteers who, in 2025, dedicated their time and compassion to positively impact the lives of so many. What an incredible year of giving!
Let’s continue this volunteer momentum together…
bringing joy, generosity, and purpose in 2026 to support and strengthen our Ontario community.
Fall is here… Thanksgiving is around the corner and for the Ontario Distribution Centre our busiest volunteer season will soon be upon us !
From October to December we are grateful for the hundreds of volunteers that come to our location each year to support our ongoing community service needs . The priority to get food delivered to our TSA ministries is with us all-year long.
The end of the year brings us to Toy Season ! A time to sort and deliver thousands of gifts generously donated to bring joy and dignity to a child and their family at Christmas.
Our volunteer opportunities are starting to fill up with amazing groups of corporate teams, friends and families and of course our network of individuals that are part of the TSA Behind the Shield Volunteer Program at ODC.
If you haven’t already signed up for a shift… we hope you do soon !
Our goal is to have every volunteer spot filled!!
Many of you often ask :
‘What else you can do to support our mission?'
‘What can you bring in as a donation?’
Here is the information you need ➡️
Ontario Distribution Centre Volunteer Program
Volunteer Shifts: For safety reasons, we accept groups with a maximum size of 15 volunteers per shift.'
January to October, we have the following volunteer shifts where the volunteers sort food and other items (clothing, houseware, back-to-school supplies, toys, etc.).
Morning volunteer shifts: Monday to Friday (9am-12pm)
Afternoon volunteer shifts: Monday to Thursday (1pm-2:45pm…our warehouse hours end at 3pm).
For November and December, we have the following volunteer shifts where the volunteers bag and sort toys and sort food and other items (clothing, houseware, etc.).
Morning volunteer shifts: Monday to Friday (9am-12pm)
Afternoon shifts: Monday to Thursday (1pm- 3pm)
My Impact volunteer portal, volunteer forms and orientation document:
Register: Please create an account/register your name with the MyImpact volunteer portal. Fill out the ‘Availability’ screen, then click ‘Submit application’. (IMPORTANT: Please follow the registration instructions included in the attached Corp-Salvation Army Food and Other Sorting Group Volunteer Sign-Up Package).
Sign up: Please sign in under your name with the MyImpact volunteer portal. To select the date(s) and shift(s) that you wish to do, go to the ‘Opportunities’ tab – select ‘Opportunity Calendar’ -- this view presents a list of the shifts per day in the calendar. Select a date, then select the shift and click on the ‘Sign up’ button. You can also go to the ‘Schedule’ tab to see the shifts you have signed up for.
Note: If you need to cancel a shift, you can click the “ Remove” tab to remove shift from your schedule
Forms: Please fill out the 2 Volunteer forms , found here - Corp-Salvation Army Food and Other Sorting Group Volunteer Sign-Up Package and bring them to your first volunteer shift:
1. Volunteer Waiver of Liability and 2. Volunteer Confidentiality Agreement.
For Groups Only: The ‘Group Volunteer Registration’ form is also required to be completed.
Location, Parking and Entrance: Salvation Army Ontario Distribution Centre is located at 150 Railside Road, North York, M3A 1A3. (Major intersection: Lawrence Avenue and DVP.) Volunteer parking is in the Korean Community Church parking (1st driveway entrance) Accessibility parking is located near the main entrance (2nd driveway entrance). Please enter by the Salvation Army Main Reception.
To every volunteer, our Happiness Heroes,
Thank You for being a part
of our Salvation Army Ontario Distribution Centre
‘Behind the Shield’ volunteer program, through your selfless service.
For any inquiries, please contact the Volunteer Management at the Ontario Distribution Centre:
Sherryann Boyce, Manager of Volunteers, Ontario Distribution Centre
(sherryann.boyce@salvationarmy.ca)