Free Goods Program Worker

Calgarydropin; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 37,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental benefits

Employer RRSP matching

Paid vacation and wellness days

Employee Assistance Program

Life and AD&D insurance

Ongoing training and development

Job summary

The Calgary Drop-In Centre (the DI) is seeking a Free Goods Program Worker to help collect and redistribute donated items. You will transport goods using DI fleet vehicles, sort items for reuse, and support volunteers to maximize their contribution to the DI’s mission.

You will join a team dedicated to housing-first, trauma-informed care, and compassionate service. A valid driver’s license and ability to lift 50 lbs are required, with health and safety training assets a plus.

Qualifications

• Teamwork and willingness to help all stakeholders.
• Able to lift donations up to 50 lbs and assess usability.
• Willingness to perform janitorial tasks as needed.
• Valid driver’s license required for driving duties.
• Respect for the mission, values, and community served.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate DI fleet vehicles to transport donations and materials.
• Inspect and prepare vehicles; optimize loading docks and storage areas.
• Sort and triage donated items to maximize reuse and minimize waste.
• Tour, support, and guide volunteers and participants; delegate tasks.
• Clean, organize, and restore shared spaces; support janitorial ops.
• Assist in providing a welcoming environment for guests and staff.

Skills

Team oriented

Able to lift 50 lbs

Willingness to do janitorial work

Valid driver's license

Good communication

Education

First Aid certification

Forklift certification

WHMIS certification

Job description

Posted Monday, August 31, 2026 at 8:00 AM

Join Our Mission at the Calgary Drop-In Centre

At the Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre (the DI), we’re looking for passionate, community-minded people who know that kindness can change lives.

Whether you’re helping guests find housing, supporting their recovery journey, or keeping our operations running strong, your work here truly matters. Every role at the DI is about creating possibilities for others, and for yourself.

Who We Are

The Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre (the DI) is a low-barrier, housing-focused organization serving some of Calgary’s most vulnerable community members.

We believe everyone deserves dignity, safety, and the opportunity to thrive. Every day, our team meets people where they’re at — offering basic needs, compassion, and connection while helping them move toward stable, permanent housing.

Our work is guided by the principles of housing first, trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and recovery-oriented practice. But above all, we’re guided by people — their stories, their strengths, and their potential.

When you join the DI, you’re joining a team built on respect, collaboration, and heart.

The Opportunity

Position Title: Free Goods Program Worker
Reports To: Manager, Free Goods Program
Employment Type: Full-time
Schedule: 40 hours per week, 5 days on/2 days off
Location: 1 Dermot Baldwin Way SE, Calgary, Alberta

About the Department

The Free Goods Program collects and redistributes a wide range of donated goods including furniture, household items, food, clothing, hygiene products, and technology. These donations serve two critical purposes:

• Donated goods furnish homes for low-income Calgarians including those exiting homelessness and other vulnerable populations.
• Donated goods provide essential supplies (food, linens, hygiene products, etcetera) that keep the DI’s emergency shelters and affordable housing buildings operating.

This multi-award-winning program diverts items from landfills whilst supporting both housing stability and the DI’s emergency shelter, housing, health, recovery, and administrative services.

What You’ll Do

Every role at the DI makes a difference. In this position, you will:

• Safely operate DI fleet vehicles to transport donations, goods, and materials while efficiently loading, unloading, and moving items using appropriate material handling equipment to ensure timely, reliable, and impactful support of agency operations.
• Champion safe, efficient, and organized operations by inspecting, maintaining, and preparing vehicles for daily use; proactively identifying and reporting issues; and optimizing loading docks, storage areas, and workspaces to create a clean, accessible, and high-performing environment.
• Assess, sort, and triage donated items by identifying reusable, high-value resources, redirecting salvageable goods, and responsibly disposing of unusable materials to maximize community impact, operational efficiency, and sustainability.
• Create a welcoming and engaging volunteer experience by confidently touring, supporting, and guiding individual and group volunteers and Fine Option participants, while coordinating, assigning, and delegating meaningful tasks that maximize their contributions and advance the DI's mission.
• Contribute to a safe, welcoming, and well-maintained environment by actively cleaning, organizing, and restoring shared spaces, performing snow removal, and supporting janitorial operations to ensure facilities remain accessible, functional, and ready to serve guests, volunteers, and staff.

What You Bring

We know that great people come from all kinds of backgrounds. You don’t have to check every single box! If you’re passionate about helping others and share our values, we want to hear from you.

What we need from you

• Team oriented, friendly and will go out of their way to help all stakeholders
• Able to lift incoming donations (up to 50 lbs.) and can evaluate whether the donations can be kept or discarded
• Able to use warehouse equipment and maintain it
• Willingness to do janitorial work
• Ability to provide a satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Check.
• A genuine commitment to the mission, vision, values, and work of the agency.

Nice to Have’s

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred
• Warehouse or similar experience preferred
• Clean, valid driver’s license (must be at least 25 years of age for insurance purposes) is required for staff eligible for driving duties
• Possession of First Aid, Forklift and WHMIS certification would be an asset

Working at the DI

Working at the Calgary Drop-In Centre (the DI) means being part of meaningful, human-centered work that can sometimes involve complex and emotionally charged situations. You may encounter individuals experiencing crisis, distress, or strong emotions, and situations that require calm, quick thinking, and compassion under pressure.

We know this work can be intense and we also know it’s deeply impactful. That’s why we prioritize staff wellbeing through training, peer and supervisory support, debriefing opportunities, and a strong culture of teamwork. Our environment calls for resilience and steadiness, but it also offers the reward of seeing real change and connection every day. Some roles may also involve occasional exposure to medical distress or bodily fluids, and safety protocols and resources are always in place to support you.

We believe in taking care of our people so they can take care of others. Our total rewards package includes:

• Comprehensive health and dental benefits
• Employer-matching RRSP program
• Paid vacation, sick, and wellness days
• Employee & Family Assistance Program (Homewood EFAP)
• Life and AD&D insurance
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities

Benefits typically begin on the first of the month following your start date, and our P&C team will ensure you have clear information and support from day one.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

Joining the DI means joining a community that believes in people and their capacity, resilience, and worth. You’ll have the chance to:

• Make a tangible difference in people’s lives every single day
• Work with a team that values respect, compassion, and authenticity
• Collaborate with dedicated professionals and community partners
• Be part of an organization that encourages growth, wellbeing, and innovation

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