Connect. Contribute. Grow.
Join Summer of Service and spend your summer making a difference in your community while building skills, confidence, and connections.
Already Registered? Sign Up For Volunteer Dates!
Use the button below to sign up for the volunteer opportunities. You will receive an email when you have been approved to attend.
If you’re not registered yet, scroll down and find the forms to submit!
Quick Facts
📍 Where?
Brandon & Portage la Prairie
⏰ Commitment
Choose opportunities that fit your schedule
📋 Volunteer Hours
Hours are tracked and can be submitted for high school volunteer credit
🤝 Support
Volunteer alongside other youth with guidance from United Way staff
📅 When?
July & August
👥 Who?
Youth ages 13-25
Missed the Summer of Service Orientation?
No problem! Our staff will provide onsite orientation to each of the locations where you’ll be volunteering. If you have questions - ask an SOS Team member! Or send us an email: summer@uwwcmanitoba.ca
Meet Your Summer of Service Crew
Summer of Service offers many ways to get involved. Meet the mascots who represent the different ways you can make an impact, build connections, and grow throughout the summer.
Poppy: Helping Hands in Action
Poppy represents volunteering, teamwork, and getting involved in your community. Whether you're supporting a local event, helping a charitable organization, caring for community spaces, or lending a hand wherever it's needed, Poppy reminds us that even small actions can make a big difference.
Sunny: Caring for Community
Sunny represents kindness, connection, and supporting others. Summer of Service is about more than completing tasks. It's about building relationships, strengthening communities, and creating positive experiences for the people around us.
Zippy: Learning, Sharing, and Growing
Zippy represents curiosity, leadership, and personal growth. Through Summer of Service, you'll discover new opportunities, learn about your community, develop valuable skills, and gain experiences that can help shape your future.
Why Participate?
Build Real-World Skills
Develop teamwork, communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
Meet New People
Connect with other youth who want to make a difference in their community.
Explore Your Community
Discover local organizations, causes, and opportunities you may not have known about.
Gain Experience
Build your résumé, explore future career interests, and grow your confidence.
Make an Impact
Support local organizations and community initiatives that help make our region stronger.
How Summer of Service Works
Register for the Program
Complete the registration package to join Summer of Service and become eligible for volunteer opportunities throughout the summer.
Choose Opportunities That Interest You
Volunteer opportunities are offered throughout July and August with a variety of local organizations, community events, and projects.
Sign Up for Activities
Once registered, you'll receive information about upcoming opportunities and can choose the activities that fit your interests and schedule.
Volunteer Alongside Other Youth
Summer of Service participants work together in a supportive environment with guidance from United Way staff.
Track Your Impact
Volunteer hours are tracked and can be submitted toward Manitoba high school graduation requirements.
What does Summer of Service look like?
A typical Monday morning in the United Way Summer of Service Program starts at Helping Hands. From 10 am to 1 pm, we help with meal preparation, serving food, and clean up. After that we get about an hour lunch break before heading to the Samaritan House Gardens across from Neelin High School. There we help weed, water, clean, and harvest vegetables that are used to support the Samaritan House food bank.
A day in the life of a United Way Summer of Service Volunteer is different each day. Each morning, we volunteer with a nonprofit organization, helping them prepare for the day ahead and supporting their programs. After a short lunch break, we head to another organization to help with a variety of activities. This could include playing games with seniors, maintaining community gardens, or assisting with other community projects.
Registration Information
Complete the appropriate forms and return them to us - summer@uwwcmanitoba.ca
Questions?
Email: summer@uwwcmanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-571-8929
Questions (FAQ):
Do I need experience?
Not at all! This program is a great place to start gaining experience working in the community and building connections.
Can I participate if I can only volunteer some days?
· Yes! As a Summer of Service volunteer, you will receive a schedule detailing all the volunteer opportunities each week, and you can decide which ones interest you and work for your schedule.
How old do I have to be?
· To volunteer, you must be between the ages of 13-25.
Do I get volunteer hours?
· Yes! Any hours you volunteer count toward your high school credit volunteer hours.
Can I volunteer with friends?
· Absolutely! Keep in mind that when you arrive at any of our volunteer locations, your priority is the job at hand, so if you’re ready to work, please tell your friends!
· Summer of Service is a great way to give back to your community and have fun at the same time!
What should I bring?
· Locations vary each day, but some things that would be good to consider include: water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, snacks, lunch if you’re with us for the full day.
· Your Summer of Service leads and assistants will always bring a first aid kit and any of the materials or supplies needed for the job.
· The Summer of Service team will let you know if you need something specific for a particular day.
Is transportation provided?
No, participants (and parents/guardians of those under 18) are responsible for transportation to and from program locations including to the office.
It is important that participants arrive and are picked up on time, as program schedules are built around the availability of participating organizations and staff.
What if I don’t get as many hours as I need in one summer?
· Your volunteer hours will carry over as many summers as you would like to volunteer with us! If you are looking to get the minimum hours to receive the benefits such as references and credits and can’t get all the hours in one summer, you can continue building those hours the following year.
· You can volunteer during the school year. Connect with your counsellor or resource teacher to set that up and maybe consider one of the locations you got some experience at in the summer!
Questions from Parents & Guardians
Who supervises the volunteers?
Every Summer of Service activity is supervised by United Way Summer of Service staff. Our team is carefully selected to bring a variety of strengths, experiences, and perspectives to support the diverse needs of our volunteers.
Staff receive orientation and training before the program begins, and our team includes members with First Aid certification. Criminal Record Checks and Child Abuse Registry Checks are completed in accordance with United Way policies and the requirements of each staff member's role and age. Throughout the summer, staff are present at every activity to provide guidance, respond to concerns, and help create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment.
Volunteers participate in groups, and activities are staffed to ensure participants have access to support throughout the day.
Will I know where my child is volunteering?
Yes. Registered participants receive information about upcoming volunteer opportunities, including locations and activity details.
Is Summer of Service a daily commitment?
No. Participants choose the volunteer opportunities that fit their schedules.
Is there a cost to participate?
No. Summer of Service is free for participants.
What if my child has accessibility needs or requires additional support?
We encourage families to contact us before the program begins. We'll work with you to determine how we can best support your child's participation.
Is transportation provided?
No, participants (and parents/guardians of those under 18) are responsible for transportation to and from program locations including to the office.
It is important that participants arrive and are picked up on time, as program schedules are built around the availability of participating organizations and staff.
Who do I contact if I have questions?
Phone: 204-571-8929
Email: summer@uwwcmanitoba.ca