Volunteer with the
Abortion & Reproductive Support Network (ARSN)

There are no set shifts. Cases are referred to us by local health centres and clients also self-refer. It is difficult to predict when a case referral will come in or the frequency of cases. Usually we average about one case a week. When a case referral comes in, we post on our online internal communication platform asking who is available to take the case and we assign two people. Some cases take only a day or two, other cases could last 2-3 weeks. If a case is lasting longer than expected and your availability changes, you can pass the case off to another volunteer. 

There is no minimum number of cases that you are required to take. Most volunteers are full-time workers, students, and caregivers and our availability fluctuates. You can take on cases as your schedule allows. 

You have some control over how and when you interact with clients during a case, but it can be important to have some weekday availability. For example, if you have arranged a taxi for a client and the client is currently on their way to an abortion clinic, it is important that you are able to check your phone and be available to text or call with the client should any issues arise. Depending on your daytime responsibilities, you may be able to do this while at work/school/caregiving/etc. But if you’re not able to (e.g. you have an exam), you would have to pass the case off to someone who can be the point of contact for your client. 

If you are NEVER able to be on your phone Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm, this volunteer opportunity may not be right for you. 

Yes, but it depends on your availability to be on your phone during work. See the answer to the question above for more details. 

Yes, this is a good volunteering opportunity for someone whose schedule fluctuates a lot. Case referrals are sporadic and come in at all different times and days, so no specific/consistent volunteering availability is required. However, if you frequently have big, unexpected responsibilities that take you away from your work for days at a time with little warning, this may not be the right volunteering opportunity for you. 

Yes! We’ll teach you everything you need to know. After volunteering for a few months, you’ll be an expert!

No, providing transportation to clients is optional.

If you’d only like to be a driver, please instead join our Driver Network. You can fill out the Driver Network Volunteer Interest Form to get started. 

We have a couple great volunteering options for folks who want to help with the back end organizing and don’t want to be interacting with clients. Unlike the ARSN volunteers, this work would require you to attend a weekly one-hour Zoom meeting, so it is important to have more consistent availability. If you’re interested in getting involved, please email volunteer@niagarareproductivejustice.com and include your preference for what type of volunteering you’d like to do and we can get you started!

We do not have any physical location. We are a 100% volunteer-run community collective and our main source of funding is through individual donations. All of our work takes place remotely aside from a quarterly in-person meeting that happens at a volunteer’s house. 

Niagara Reproductive Justice and ARSN are not registered non-profits or charities. We work with OPIRG, a local registered non-profit, in order to apply for grants and for accountability practices. OPIRG is guided by a Board of Directors who are able to receive incident reports on behalf of NRJ & ARSN volunteers and clients. 

For sure! Please email us at volunteer@niagarareproductivejustice.com and we’d be happy to chat more over email, over the phone, over Zoom, or grab a coffee in person!