I would like to volunteer
Volunteer with Ribbon
Resource Centre
Every day,community members access the Resource Centre at Ribbon, whether while waiting for another program and service or for access to a welcoming, respectful space, food, drink, public computers, wifi, electricity, and an indoor space.
The Resource Centre works closely with the Front of House staff team (Reception and a Program Coordinator) to support and empower guests within the space. Volunteers help make this program possible by serving food and drinks, creating a welcoming and respectful space for participants, supporting participants to use the TV and public computers, and chatting.
Many participants in this program have unstable housing, sources of income, and food, and substance use is common, including at times on site.
Confidential sex work drop-in program
Ribbon and Vancouver Coastal Health co-host a community program for male and gender diverse sex workers three nights per week. Volunteers help make this program possible by preparing and serving food, creating a welcoming and respectful space for participants, and being part of the social opportunities within this community each week.
Many participants in this program have unstable housing, sources of income, and food, and substance use is common, including at times on site.
This important program provides a mix of programming, social connection, and access to health and harm reduction services such as STI testing and vaccination. Program participants provide input to the program, including feedback on Indigenous supports, at a monthly advisory meeting, called the CCC. In addition, The Corner offers a Substance Use Support Group based on a contingency management model.
The Corner is a collaboration between Vancouver Coastal Health and Ribbon Community, and is staffed by a mix of Program Assistants, Program Coordinators, and Case Managers, in addition to wonderful volunteers.
Ribbon Grocery - Vancouver
Ribbon Grocery provides people living with HIV and their families a range of free produce, protein, pantry and hygiene items to choose from. We are open 28 weeks each year, based around the Income Assistance payment schedule issued by the provincial government.
This program provides practical support for community members experiencing income or food insecurity. Ribbon Grocery offers a mix of food items we purchase to distribute to our communities with input from our clients, and food items that are donated to us while they are still safe to consume but past their best before date.
Volunteers contribute hundreds of hours each year to make this program possible. Volunteer roles include picking up food items, receiving deliveries, shelving and stocking items, bagging produce, welcoming clients to the space, and accompanying clients as they shop the space for free.
| Activity | Shifts | Start | End | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 35 | 4/13/2026 | 12/21/2026 | |
| Tuesday | 6 | 4/14/2026 | 5/26/2026 | |
| Wednesday | 19 | 4/15/2026 | 12/23/2026 | |
About Us
Our purpose
Our values
- We nurture meaningful involvement of people living with HIV.
- We welcome our communities.
- We honour every journey.
- We are accountable.
More information about each value is available here.
Ultimately, our purpose, values, and name are a celebration of our communities past and present: what we have built, and what we have learned along the way; the connection and community borne out of remarkable grief and loss. As we share our new purpose, values, name and look, we are also celebrating what you told us you want to see change, the parts of us that will stay the same, and most importantly, they ways we will continue to show up for people living with HIV - and our broader communities - for years to come.
