PHOTO: BRIAN BATISTA BETTENCOURT

Take a step back from your own stressful life and spend time volunteering for others instead. Communities editor Victoria Stunt gives you some suggestions

Evergreen Centre

Evergreen Centre, a branch of Yonge Street Mission, is a drop-in centre for at-risk youth. You can volunteer here by merely hanging out and engaging in supportive conversation with the people there.

Located at 381 Yonge St.

The Humane Society

Do you miss cuddling with your family pet? Spend some time with animals at the Toronto Humane Society. You can feed kittens at a kitten nursery, groom adult cats, and walk dogs. You can even play with bunnies.

The closest location is at 11 River St.

Jessie’s Centre

The centre offers supports for pregnant women and mothers under the age of 18. They also provide supportive housing for young families.

If you have experience in childcare you can spend time baby-sitting here. You can help cook, or volunteer at the front-desk, too. Men are not discouraged at the centre.

Located at 205 Parliament St.

Toronto Public Library

At various branches around Toronto, you can volunteer to help elementary aged kids with reading, and tutor teens. You can also help adults improve their literacy and basic math skills. The library will pay your transportation costs to different branches around the city.

The closest location is at 269 Gerrard St. E.