Services & Programs
SVSS has provided one-to-one, direct volunteer services to Saanich residents for over 30 years. If you would like to access any of these services, please contact us by calling (250) 595-8008
Health Protocols:
We d0 our best to keep our community and volunteers safe. Our services will be adjusted to fit safety guidelines if they are announced.
Volunteer Services
Appointment Drives
Volunteers provide drives to medical and other appointments in the Greater Victoria area. We can accommodate walkers. Clients who use wheel chairs must be able to transfer independently.
Health protocols: our volunteer drivers take every precaution to ensure your safety and their own.
Income Tax Filing
SVSS does income tax returns year-round for eligible clients having a simple tax return. Please check your eligibility for 2025 appointments before contacting us using the CRA website link below:
To ensure the health and safety of both clients and volunteers, SVSS continues to provide virtual income tax clinics by phone or video conference if clients choose this option. We also have in person tax clinics starting soon. Please call our office to learn more.
Friendship Calls and Visits
Our volunteers provide telephone calls and/or visits to play games or chat with clients about past and current events, family, hobbies, or other subjects of mutual interest.
Health protocols: our volunteers take every precaution to ensure your safety and their own.
Food Bank Hamper & Delivery
Volunteer drivers pick up food hampers from local food banks and deliver to clients weekly.
Health protocols: our volunteer drivers take every precaution to ensure your safety and their own.
Minor Home Repair
Replacing out-of-reach light bulbs, putting up or taking down curtain rods, fixing a leaky tap or stuck door/drawer, are just an example of some of the jobs our Saanich Volunteers do to help clients. We accept minor, small repairs and refer clients if a professional is required.
Health protocols: our volunteers provide support for exterior and/or interior services in line with any protocols in place at the time of their visit.
Garden & Yard Work
Pulling weeds, doing minor pruning, or tidying up the yard are all ways Saanich Volunteers help their neighbours. Clients provide the gardening tools when possible.
Health protocols: our volunteers provide support for services in line with any protocols in place at the time of their visit.
Food Security Programming
Saanich Volunteer Services Society volunteers play a significant role in managing food security and wellbeing for our Saanich community members. In the coming months, we will update and improve our commitment to food security and community wellness.
Our programs, hamper delivery and grocery delivery, have been successful due to cooperation with other community programs and also due to ongoing client satisfaction. More than Meals food delivery was a United Way Program formed during the Covid epidemic and it ended in December, 2024. SVSS knows there is ongoing and growing demand for help with food security, including meal delivery, for our Saanich community. We are researching and building options to help satisfy this need both resourcefully and sustainably.
Please check back periodically for news as we build an inclusive, accessible food security program for these times.
Community Programs
Grocery Shopping Bus
The Grocery Shopping Bus Program survived COVID-19, albeit with much lower ridership. However, it has not survived the latest cuts to programming. SVSS staff are looking for community and/or private options to continue the program. Our executive director, Carol Turnbull is also searching for grants under every stone to help this program come back. The friendships which this program grew cannot be easily continued given mobility challenges of participants. We hope to bring the program back to provide time for those friendships to be face to face once more.
Better At Home
In partnership with United Way Victoria, SVSS helps clients access support through Better At Home, a program that provides adults over 65 years with non-medical needs such as light housekeeping and other volunteer services.
NOTE: Due to a need for housekeepers our program may be waitlisted and we cannot guarantee services until we can provide housekeepers. We know there is a need in our Saanich community for these light housekeeping services at affordable rates and we are working on finding long-term solutions to provide such services to the many people who require assistance. We will update our website as we grow this program to reach the maximum number of people.
Tea and Talk at McRae House
The second and fourth Wednesday each month from 2 until 3:30 pm SVSS hosts a tea party for those who choose to attend. Please call us at least one week ahead if you're a Saanich resident and you would like to arrange a volunteer driver for yourself. Whether you live in Saanich or not, if you would like to come on your own steam, then please just call our reception line and let us know you plan to come.
Macular Degeneration Support Group
The Macular Degeneration Support Group meets monthly and offers visually impaired clients an opportunity to enjoy guest presentations, refreshments and socializing.
All Covid 19 protocols are followed for this group and please contact us if you are interested in attending.
Community Information & Referral
SVSS staff can provide information or refer people to other community services, including how to apply for the Better At Home light housekeeping program and handyDART services.