Summer Student - Drop In Centre Worker

This position is 8 weeks/35 hours a week at $20.00/hr

Since 1975 The Mustard Seed Street Church has been essential in fighting hunger and restoring faith to our community in Greater Victoria. Our operations are nearly 100 percent community funded and include Vancouver Island's largest and most accessible Food Bank; daily meals, coffee, and snacks; Hospitality programs; and a Food Security Distribution Centre. We offer church services and community building faith-based programming, as well as pastoral care for those seeking a place to belong and grow spiritually. Through these core programs we assist over 5,000 people each month with the help of more than 50 daily volunteers and many generous financial supporters!

The Drop-In Centre Worker will support The Mustard Seed Street Church Hospitality Centre in providing essential services to individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, and social isolation. Under the guidance of trained staff and volunteers, the student will gain experience in trauma-informed community support, food services, digital tools, and community engagement. This role helps create a safe, welcoming, and culturally inclusive environment for vulnerable individuals across Greater Victoria.

Client engagement and support

• Welcome guests, offer supportive listening, and help build trusting relationships with individuals facing homelessness or housing instability.
• Assist community members in accessing meals, beverages, clothing, hygiene items, and other essential resources.
• Help clients identify immediate needs and navigate barriers, encouraging pathways toward stability, wellness, and community connections.
• Refer guests to internal programs such as Guest Services and the Food Bank.
• Share information on external supports, including housing programs, income assistance, mental health and addiction supports, newcomer services, and employment resources.
• Use digital tools, email, and simple online forms to help clients access services and community programs.

Hospitality Centre operations

• Assist with daily services and greet clients accessing the Hospitality Centre, helping maintain a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment.
• Support the distribution of daily meals, snacks, beverages, and emergency food items, contributing to food-rescue efforts that reduce waste and support environmental sustainability.
• Assist with community meals, including setup, service, cleanup, and maintaining a welcoming dining space.
• Support cleanliness, organization, and safety according to centre protocols.
• Collaborate with volunteers to ensure smooth service delivery and positive guest interactions.
• Assist partners offering on-site services such as MediVan nursing care, Ministry of Social Development income support navigation, BC Hydro energy-saving kits, and hearing-aid support through Inlet Hearing.
• Help facilitate weekly programming such as art club, games, bingo, and movie nights to promote connection and mental well-being.

Kitchen and meal preparation support

• Assist kitchen staff and volunteers with preparing meals, sandwiches, snacks, and hydration supplies for daily distribution.
• Support safe food-handling practices, food portioning, and packaging using training provided.
• Help track meal numbers, inventory, and special dietary needs, using simple digital tools or spreadsheets.
• Contribute to environmentally sustainable practices by assisting with rescued food sorting and minimizing food waste.

Clothing boutique and essential-needs distribution

• Help organize, restock, and distribute clothing, footwear, blankets, hygiene items, and other essentials.
• Provide person-centred, dignified service when assisting guests in selecting items.
• Help clients navigate simple processes such as filling out forms, signing up for services, or understanding next steps.

Program support, evaluation, and team collaboration

• Participate in collecting basic program data, observations, and guest feedback to help evaluate services and identify emerging needs.
• Attend team meetings, supervision sessions, and training opportunities in trauma-informed care, mental-health awareness, cultural competency, crisis response, and safe workplace practices.
• Work collaboratively across departments to support coordinated, holistic service delivery.
• Assist in researching best practices in community support, homelessness response, youth engagement, and person-centred approaches.

 The Mustard Seed Street Church is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

These positions are mostly funded through the Canada Summer Jobs Program.

To be eligible, youth must:

• be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment;
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment*; and,
• have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

*International students are not eligible participants. International students include anyone who is temporarily in Canada for studies and who is not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada.