Volunteer Opportunity | November 15–30, 2026
Help us welcome newcomers to British Columbia by participating in a 15-day community donation drive supporting the BC Safe Haven Program.
We are collecting essential personal-care and family items that will be assembled into Welcome Kits for newcomers as they begin their journey in a new community.
Items needed include:
- Shampoo, conditioner and body wash
- Soap and hand soap
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Razors and shaving supplies
- Lotion and personal-care products
- Feminine hygiene products
- Diapers and wipes for babies and young children
- Adult diapers and incontinence supplies
- Baby formula and children’s shelf-stable milk
- Food gift cards
- Compass card
- School supplies (backpacks, notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons, etc.)
- Other new, unopened personal hygiene and essential-care items
Donation Drop-Off Location:
United Way British Columbia
4543 Canada Way
Burnaby, BC V5G 4T4
When:
Weekdays: 9am - 3:30pm
November 15–30, 2026
Why volunteer?
A Welcome Kit may seem simple, but receiving essential personal-care items can make a meaningful difference for someone who has recently arrived in a new country.
This volunteer opportunity is a chance to learn about the experiences and needs of newcomers, contribute to a welcoming community, and see how individual donations can become practical support for people starting a new chapter in their lives.
Volunteers will help collect, organize and prepare donated items so they can be distributed through the BC Safe Haven Resource Network.
Every donation matters. Every Welcome Kit sends a message: You are welcome here!
Join us, donate what you can, and help us create a warmer welcome for refugee claimants in British Columbia.
If you are interested or have any questions, please connect with Mary @ MaryB@uwbc.ca
