Opportunities
Host (Volunteer)
What is a Host / Host Family
A host or host family is an individual or family ideally from the neighbourhood or community who has expressed an interest in getting to know a child or youth with a disability. The Coordinator’s role is to recruit, connect and support the relationship between a host / host family and an individual with a disability and their family. The frequency, in which people get together, depends on everyone involved.
What is the Host/Host Family process
Hosts are often met as the coordinator begins to look around the natural community of the individual with a disability and their family. More recently, hosts are also identified through community or university websites such as the Volunteer Toronto Website or similar volunteer network programs. These sites provide an opportunity to match or bring people together.
Please click here for a Host / Host Family Application.
Host Opportunities List
TORONTO EAST
Toronto East is that area east of the Don Valley Parkway/Highway 404
“Basketball Buddy”
Extend-A-Family is looking for a basketball buddy who will be paired with an 11-year-old male who loves playing basketball, talking about basketball/the NBA and playing NBA videogames. He lives in the McCowan and Steeles area. We are looking for someone who is friendly, patient, respectful, enjoys basketball & has knowledge around basketball & the NBA. If you are interested in this opportunity and can commit long-term (3 months or longer), please contact Nusrat Motala at 437.335.2180 or nm@extendafamily.ca
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“Brimley & Sheppard Buddy”
A 15-year-old male living in the Brimley & Sheppard area with interests in building, coding, video games & sports, is seeking a companion to volunteer with. The ideal candidate would be friendly, supportive, motivating, have a genuine interest in getting to know someone new and be interested in building their volunteer skills alongside this youth. Familiarity with Cantonese would be an asset. If you are interested in this opportunity and can commit long-term (3 months or longer), please contact Nusrat Motala at 437.335.2180 or nm@extendafamily.ca
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“Mentor at Markham/Ellesmere”
A 14 year old youth living in the Markham/Ellesmere area would like to meet someone who is interested in food, video games, and exploring the community. He is looking for a male mentor, if you have the same interests and are interested in this opportunity, please contact Nusrat Motala at 437.335.2180 or nm@extendafamily.ca
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“Mentor at 404 and Sheppard”
A 13 year old youth who loves the TTC, creates YouTube videos and enjoys cooking shows is looking to connect with someone who shares the same interest or passion. He lives in the 404 and Sheppard area, he is looking for someone to meet over Zoom and would eventually like to hang-out together in person. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Nusrat Motala at 437.335.2180 or nm@extendafamily.ca
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"Swimming Mentor"
A fun and energetic 10-year-old girl who loves spending time in water is in search of a female mentor with swimming experience to teach her how to swim, preferably, IN PERSON. The family lives near Overlea & Don Mills area. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Antonia Heer at 647.292.5144 or ah@extendafamily.ca
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"Mentor Animation, and Cartooning"
A 12-year-old who loves drawing, cartoons and cartooning or video animation is searching for a mentor with these shared interests. He is seeking someone who could draw, cartoon, and just hang out with him that would act as a role model. This conscientious 12 year would be best suited to a kind, confident and encouraging person who would be interested in exploring the St Clair Ave East and Kennedy area possibly acting as a connector while our and about. Interested persons should contact Kim Southern-Paulsen at 416.757.2780 or ksp@extendafamily.ca
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"Spend Time Gaming, and Learning about Computer Animation"
A reserved 19-year-old who loves music, gaming and computer animation is looking for someone with shared interests who could hang out virtually. The ideal candidate would be confident, fun with a sense of humour and has similar interests. This opportunity will eventually switch to in-person. If you have an interest in meeting and getting to know someone new, and spending some quality time with them, minimum commitment is two times per month. Interested persons should contact Kim Southern-Paulsen at 416.757.2780 or ksp@extendafamily.ca
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"Swimming Mentor"
A fun and energetic 6-year-old girl who loves spending time in water is in search of a mentor with swimming experience to spend some time at their local pool. The family lives near O’Connor and Donlands area. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Marlene Solano at 416.824.4252 or ms@extendafamily.ca
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“Mentor/Friendship Buddy”
A friendly and hardworking youth is looking for a friend/mentor to explore community, build connections and have fun together. He loves puzzles, art, and being with others. If you are interested in this opportunity and can commit long-term (3 months or longer), please contact Kristen Carhart at 647-292-5175 or kc@extendafamily.ca
TORONTO CENTRAL
Toronto Central is that area between Dufferin Street and the Don Valley Parkway/Highway 404
“Athletic Enthusiast”
A young man who loves running and coding is looking to connect with someone who is open-minded, creative, and has a keen interest in fitness. If you are interested in this opportunity and can commit long-term (3 months or longer), please contact Kristen Carhart at 647-292-5175 or kc@extendafamily.ca
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“Virtual friend”
A young woman who loves reading, puzzles, and enjoys crafting and creating. She would like to connect with a warm and encouraging person. If you are interested in this opportunity and can commit long-term (3 months or longer), please contact Kristen Carhart at 647-292-5175 or kc@extendafamily.ca
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“Cooking Companion”
A kind and fun 14-year-old male who loves building, art, and trying new things is looking for a patient and understanding friend to explore his new interest in cooking together. He would like to connect virtually to start with potential to meet in person. If you are interested in this opportunity and can commit long-term, please contact Kristen Carhart at 647-292-5175 or kc@extendafamily.ca
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"Skating Buddy/Mentor"
A 17-year-old male living in the Parkwoods - Don Valley East neighborhood with a passion for dinosaurs, cooking, public transit, skating, and animals is looking for a mentor and someone who he can explore his interests and passions with. He would love to have a friend to go skating with as well as someone that he could explore his interest in cooking. The youth is looking for a buddy who he can have fun with. An ideal candidate would be a confident skater, have a sense of humor and be kind. If you have an interest in getting to know this youth and creating a friendship, please contact Marlene Solano at 647-824-4252 or ms@extendafamily.ca
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"Overlea and Don Mills area"
Friendship/mentor wanted with 17 year old male that enjoys listening to music, playing virtual games and to hang out. If interested in building a friendship please call Anne Murray at 647-292-5328 or abm@extendafamily.ca
"Avenue Rd and Eglinton Ave. area"
A young at heart 18 year old woman is looking for a mentor and someone who she can explore her interests and passions with. This includes card games, crafting, participating in her local Community Centre and library, playing basketball, soccer, cooking and baking, and travelling by TTC to sights and events in Toronto. If you have an interest in getting to know this youth and creating a friendship, please contact Anne Murray at 647-292-5328 or abm@extendafamily.ca
TORONTO WEST
Toronto West is that area west of Dufferin Street
“Allen Road and Wilson Mentor”
A 12 year old youth who loves robotics, videos games and animals is looking to connect with someone who shares the same interest or passion. He lives in the Allen Rd and Wilson area, he is looking for someone to meet over Zoom and would eventually like to hang-out together in person. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Marlene Solano at 416.824.4252 or ms@extendafamily.ca
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“ Annette and Runnymede Buddy”
An 11-year-old youth who loves robotics, sports, swimming and being out in the community is looking to connect with a male host. Visits would happen in the family home and out in the community. This youth likes to ice skate and play hockey in the winter and swim and play basketball in the summer. The ideal candidate would be enthusiastic, athletic, encouraging and patient. If you are interested in this opportunity and can commit long-term (1 year or longer), please contact Marissa Wolicki at 647.292.5357 or mw@extendafamily.ca
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“Drawing and Comics Buddy“
Extend-A-Family is looking for a friend who also shares an interest in drawing and comics to spend time with a boy who is 14 and lives in the Bloor and Kipling area. We are looking for someone who is kind, patient, outgoing and friendly. We would like for this mentorship to start in the local community, focusing on the mutual interest of drawing and comics but also grow for opportunities to do various things in the community i.e., go to the local mall/ swimming pool/ movies. If you are interested in this opportunity and can commit long-term (1 year or longer), please contact Marissa Wolicki at 647.292.5357 or mw@extendafamily.ca
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“Etobicoke Buddy“
A 9-year-old girl living near Jane and Eglinton is looking for a friend to hang out with in the evenings or on the weekends. This little girl likes to engage in are singing, dancing, and playing different board games. If you can commit to 2-4 hours a month for a minimum of a year, please contact Sal Rocchese @ sr@extendafamily.ca or 416-530-0272.
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