Make a Difference While Gaining Real Work Experience

Volunteer at Hidden Treasures Thrift Store and build practical experience while helping people start fresh after incarceration.

Explore your passions, discover your strengths, and contribute to something meaningful.

If you’re a high school student aged 16 or older, volunteering at Hidden Treasures gives you the chance to learn how a real retail workplace operates while supporting second chances in our community.

Your volunteer hours can also count toward the Career-Life Connections requirement of at least 30 hours of career-life exploration.

Volunteer at Hidden Treasures
A woman with glasses and a name tag working at a checkout counter in a store, with various handbags and accessories hanging on the wall behind her.

You can help someone rebuild their life.

Finding steady work is one of the biggest challenges for someone returning to the community after incarceration.

Some people come to Hidden Treasures while on parole, work leave, or other stages of community reintegration. The store gives them an opportunity to gain work experience, practice everyday workplace skills, meet positive people in the community, and build confidence for what comes next.

As a volunteer, you become part of that supportive environment.

Learn more about what you can make possible at Hidden Treasures.

A woman smiling at a checkout counter in a store. She is wearing glasses and a light gray cap, and has earrings. The counter has a black cash register, brochures, and a gold-colored trophy. In the background, there are shelves with hats, hats with tags, a plant, and decorative items.

What You’ll Do

You’ll work with other volunteers and people gaining experience after incarceration, helping the store run smoothly while building experience of your own.

You’ll help with:

  • Sorting and organizing donated items

  • Preparing merchandise for the sales floor

  • Stocking shelves and displays

  • Keeping the store tidy and organized

  • Greeting and assisting customers

  • Helping with donations and other day-to-day store tasks

Along the way, you’ll develop experience in:

  • Customer service

  • Teamwork

  • Communication

  • Organisation

  • Reliability and time management

  • Retail operations

  • Workplace responsibility

  • Working with people from different backgrounds

These are practical skills you can carry into future jobs, post-secondary education, and other volunteer opportunities.

A woman with glasses and gray hair smiling while organizing black clothing, surrounded by various fabric and clothing items on a table and shelves in the background.

Sign Up

Tell us about yourself and your interest in volunteering.

Two people, a man and a woman, are high-fiving in a storage room with shelves of labeled plastic bins behind them. The woman is smiling, and both are dressed casually.

Attend Orientation

We’ll introduce you to the store, the team, and what you can expect.

A man with a white beard, wearing a sleeveless black t-shirt with a car graphic and khaki shorts, stands in a store among kitchen appliances and cookware, holding a pair of sandals.

Gain Experience

Build practical skills while supporting second chances in our community.

Volunteer at Hidden Treasures

Volunteering at Hidden Treasures

Store Hours

Monday-Friday: 10 am-5 pm

Saturday: 10 am-4 pm

Volunteer shifts can be arranged within store hours based on availability.

The Environment

Hidden Treasures is a safe, calm, and clean retail environment. Senior volunteers are present, and students receive guidance and support as they learn.

Location

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. We recommend confirming the opportunity with your school or Career-Life Connections teacher.

  • Yes. We can help document the hours you volunteer and provide the appropriate confirmation or signatures required by your school.

  • Bring it with you or send it to us. We’re happy to help complete the relevant documentation.

  • No. You’ll receive an orientation and guidance from experienced volunteers. A willingness to learn, help out, and work respectfully with others matters most.

  • Students must be at least 16 years old to volunteer at Hidden Treasures.

  • We offer flexibility within our store hours. We’ll work with you to find a schedule that makes sense for both you and the store.

  • Yes, you will work alongside people who are gaining work experience as part of their transition back into the community.

  • Yes. Hidden Treasures is designed to be a safe and supportive workplace for everyone. Senior volunteers are present to provide direction, answer questions, and help maintain a safe workplace.

Gain Experience That Matters

Build your résumé, complete meaningful community-service hours, meet new people, and help make your community a place where second chances are possible.