Mobile Smoothie Project (self-identified women (cis, trans, 2S))

The grassroots, secular DTES Neighbourhood House aims to provide a dignified welcoming space for DTES residents to participate in various community inspired programs (many of which address food insecurity), as well as leadership, social, and recreational opportunities.  

We are looking for volunteers who are self-identified women (cis, trans, 2S) to help with our Mobile Smoothie Project which occurs on one Tuesday per month from 9:30am-3pm (with a 45min break). This is an unpaid position. 

ABOUT MOBILE SMOOTHIE PROJECT: 
Mobile Smoothie Project runs just once a month, the day before "cheque day"-- the day that income and disability assistance payments are issued. It is part of our Nutritional Outreach programs which remains one of our most cherished vehicles for grassroots community consultation and development.  

Mobile Smoothie Project teams consist of volunteers, peer staff, and occasionally practicum students. Teams walk to different service providers in the area, then make and serve smoothies at each spot for about 30min. Each team will have a staff or volunteer Team Lead who will take on the most responsibility for leading their team. Nobody is allowed to do this outreach alone, there will always be groups of at least 2-3 people. 

VOLUNTEER RESPONSIBILITIES: 
- walk with the rest of your team, with a cart full of supplies to each location* 
- assist with making and serving smoothies 
- engagement with DTES community members 
- help your team with setup and takedown at each location 
- helping Team Lead with some of the cleaning/dish washing 

*5-10min walk between each location. Which shift you choose will determine how many locations you go to, but expect 1-3 stops in the morning, and 1-3 stops in the afternoon. 

REQUIREMENTS: 

Mobile Smoothie goes to the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre in the afternoon, where volunteers must be self-identified women (cis, trans, 2S). For this reason, at this time based on our current volunteer team, we are in need of new volunteers to the Mobile Smoothie program who identify as women. Our other requirements are: 

-understanding and support of the DTES Neighbourhood House's mission and philosophies 
-ability to work respectfully with people of diverse backgrounds and experiences  
-ability to work with a team and help each other 
-able and willing to walk and stand for a few hours at a time 
-enjoyment of community engagement/conversation with community members 
-reliability & communication skills 
-can commit to volunteering for at least 3 months  

ASSETS: 
-living or lived experience, work, and/or volunteer experience in the DTES 
-ability to speak multiple languages (especially Cantonese) 
-sense of humour is always an asset :) 
-any relevant experience is great but not really required as long as you're willing to learn! 

APPLYING: 
We require a minimum commitment of 3 months for this volunteer role. The remaining Mobile Smoothie dates for 2026 are: November 17 and December 15. Please email ops@dtesnhouse.ca if you have any questions. 

About the DTES Neighbourhood House: 
Our mission is to provide opportunities for residents to meaningfully engage with and contribute to their community in an equitable atmosphere of sharing and learning. The secular, grassroots Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House (DTES NH) embraces people of all ancestries, genders, ages and descriptions; annually welcoming almost 9,000 DTES residents in a community where 70% of our neighbours have low‐incomes, 700 are homeless and 5,000 are under-housed. 

Those who built the DTES NH put the Right to Food at the heart of our work, as nutritional vulnerability was a theme familiar to all. Our goal around the Right to Food is to reform the nutritional impact, quality, abundance and delivery of food in the DTES in consultation with residents, community food providers, non‐food community organizations, healthcare professionals, policy makers, growers/suppliers, food/beverage industry professionals and researchers. Learn more about our organization & programs at dtesnhouse.ca 

The Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House is situated on the unceded traditional territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, səlilwətaɬ, and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations