At House of Friendship, we believe in what we are doing. We get out of bed each day to make a difference in our community; to walk with and to serve. We are not happy with the status quo. We get energy from ongoing learning and growth. We lead with passion and believe without a doubt that everyone deserves to belong and thrive. We live and breathe our values of Compassion, Inclusion, Justice, Dignity and Hope. And we have fun!Sounds pretty great, doesn't it? It is!House of Friendship's Emergency Food Hamper & Neighbourhood Food Programs walk with our community to prevent and reduce the impacts of poverty, food insecurity and isolation in Waterloo Region. Through these programs we contribute to a healthy, resilient community where all can belong and thrive. This position involves interacting with the public in a friendly manner while supporting food programs through helping to lead weekly food distribution, assisting with food ordering, shipping and receiving of food supplies and picking up and delivering food donations.This is a contract position, from approximately November 19, 2026, to December 24, 2026. We are hiring for both part-time (15 hours/week) and full-time (37.5 hours/week) schedules; please indicate your preference during your application. Both schedules are within Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Valid G class driver's license required; frequent travel throughout Waterloo Region and other townships. Successful completion of a Police Records Check (Vulnerable Sector) required pre-employment.Key Responsibilities:Assist Community Development Worker (CDW), Program Leaders, teammates and volunteers to facilitate food distribution programs at various sitesInteract with participants and support CDW with crowd managementWork as a team to support de-escalation of participants experiencing heightened emotions with a trauma informed approachResponsible for pick-ups of donations for House of Friendship food programs from various donors and community partnersMaintain consistent communication and safety check-ins with supervisor while out in the communityResponsible for safety checks, mileage log, and reporting needs for repair of HOF vehiclesAssist with the set up and maintenance of program space and program suppliesAssist with general cleaning and organizing of program spacesReceive, sort, organize and store food and non-food itemsLoad & unload food trucks operating the forkliftMaintain warehouse flow in an efficient and safe manner through guiding volunteers,



maintaining a clear and safe work area and regularly checking warehouse equipmentCarry out regular tasks associated with food safetyAssist with duties related to Christmas Program as well as other program related projects throughout the yearJob Specific Knowledge/Skills:Ability to work independently in a busy environmentInterest in food issues and knowledge of community resourcesStrong ability to receive and follow instructionsKnowledge of food products and food safety issues is an assetKnowledge of social work principles and/or food security issues would be an assetBasic Computer and Microsoft office knowledge and experience is requiredEducation/Experience:Minimum high school education is requiredExperience in a warehouse environment would be an assetKnowledge and experience in shipping and receiving is an assetPrevious experience in pick-ups and deliveries is an assetExperience and training in operating a forklift is an assetFood Handler Certification an assetCritical Skills:Commitment to understand and uphold the mission and values of House of Friendship is expectedExemplary emotional intelligence, resilience, communication, conflict management and problem-solving skills requiredAbility to work professionally as a team member with staff, participants and community membersExperience or strong interest in working with diverse populations including people from various cultural backgrounds, income levels, and sensitivity to their needsExperience with and commitment to using an anti-racism, anti-oppressive and trauma informed approach to consultation, program design, evaluations of processes and service deliveryMust be dependable, professional, adaptable, a team player, and have a positive attitudeRespectful, supportive and engaging approach to persons with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, addictions, mental illness and other life challengesExcellent project, timeline and deadline management skills including skills in logistics, planning and detailed record keepingCompensation:At House of Friendship, we know that our team members are the key to the success of our organization and our ability to provide essential services to the community. In support of our mission and in alignment with our values, House of Friendship is committed to ensuring fair, market competitive, and rewarding compensation practices for all of our team members. We aspire to support our team members to create a great work environment where our team is able to thrive, succeed, and have a positive work experience.House of Friendship compensation practices including our pay grid, have been developed using documented leading pay practices in the not-for-profit sector including Pathways to Decent Work (Ontario Nonprofit Network) and Ontario Living Wage Network.



We value the experience that new team members bring to the organization and have a process in place to review previous related experience for placement on our pay grid.We value the work that you do with fair pay and benefits:3weeks vacation, pay on each pay with opportunity to have vacation pay deposited into a separate account to save for when vacation time is taken, 2 paid personal days annuallyEmployee and Family Assistance programWe help you save for the future by providing access to Group RRSP and Group TFSA optionsRate of Pay:At House of Friendship all compensation ranges are categorized under a series of "grades" and we base our payment structure on internal equity. When determining rate of pay, a candidate's past related experience will be taken into consideration.Grade: 3Min: $22.08Mid: $22.52Max: $23.98Working Conditions:Must be able to lift between 20-40 pounds and stand for 3-4 hours at a timePrograms are facilitated at community centres throughout the Region of Waterloo and House of Friendship Emergency Food HampersTravel throughout the Region of Waterloo and surrounding areasTime off/vacation is not permitted during the Christmas season (during the months of November and December)May encounter participants at program sites who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and/or experiencing symptoms of mental illnessThis role is being posted to fill a current vacancy.House of Friendship is open and inviting to qualified candidates with lived experience.House of Friendship supports justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace. We strive to be a workplace free of harassment and discrimination and we are committed to removing barriers and being an inclusive, work environment. House of Friendship is a place where each person can bring their true selves and feel that they belong. We aspire to be an organization that is anti-racist and anti-oppressive so that our team, and therefore our community, can truly belong and thrive.We invite applications from all qualified candidates and actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to accessing employment including, but not limited to Indigenous Peoples, members of racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.If you require accommodations to be able to participate fully at any stage in the recruitment process, including applying for this position, please let us know so that we can discuss accommodation options. Accommodations will be provided upon request.If you are as passionate as we are about serving the community, let's talk.To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter here:https://house-of-friendship.Hirehive.Com/warehouse-and-program-helper-efhp-kitchener-on-w6AfvnBy end of day October 16, 2026.Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not being used in the screening of applications.

📌 Warehouse And Program Helper (Kitchener)
🏢 House of Friendship of Kitchener
📍 Kitchener