Mission: The mission of Bread for the City is to provide vulnerable residents of Washington, DC with comprehensive services, including food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services, in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. We recognize that all people share a common humanity, and that all are responsible to themselves and to society as a whole. Therefore, we promote the mutual collaboration of clients, volunteers, donors, staff, and other community partners to alleviate the suffering caused by poverty and to rectify the conditions that perpetuate it.
Website: http://www.breadforthecity.org/get-involved/volunteer/
Email: volunteer@breadforthecity.org
Phone: (202) 265.2400
What volunteers do:
- Assist with administrative office work (filing, scanning, data entry, shredding, and other tasks).
- Distribute food with the food pantry team (Mon-Thurs, 9 am to Noon and 1 pm to 5 pm at the NW and SE centers).
- Sort clothing (Mon-Thurs, 9 am – 2 pm & Tues-Thurs, 2:30 pm – 5 pm @ SE Center).
- Support the free farmer's market.
- Sort and pack donated produce into family-sized distribution packages for Bread for the City clients (*spring opportunity).
- Plant, water, weed, and tend to various edible fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamental flowers (training attendance required; spring opportunity).
- Join a roster of bilingual volunteers to help with facilitating social services.
- List of additional opportunities for skilled volunteers (lawyers + law students, doctors + med students, qualitative data specialists, grant writers) listed here: http://www.breadforthecity.org/internships/
FYI:
- Individuals can view and register for ALL volunteer opportunities on this shift calendar: http://www.breadforthecity.org/selectvolshift/
- Handy volunteer documents, forms, and orientation information available here: http://www.breadforthecity.org/volunteer-orientation/
- Many volunteer opportunities are one-time activities lasting 2-3 hours. Individual volunteers with a regular schedule in one or both of our centers are asked to make a minimum time commitment of at least three months.
- A background check and confidentiality agreement are required for some roles.
- Group volunteer opportunities available.
Mission: The Community Family Life Services is a nonprofit that provides children, families, and adults with the tools they need to move themselves beyond poverty and homelessness and also supports women who are returning home following a period of incarceration by assisting them as they move into permanent self-sufficiency. CFLS has two primary goals: to provide short-term crisis assistance; and to empower individuals and families to change their lives over the long term. Our programs and services include transitional housing, mentoring for individuals and families, employment coaching and placement, case management, family education, and emergency services such as food and clothing distribution.
Website: http://www.cflsdc.org/volunteer.cfm
Email: bwashington@cflsdc.org
Phone: (202) 347-0511
What volunteers do:
Individual Volunteer Opportunities:
- Family Mentor
- Adopt-A-Family (December)
- Special Events Assistant (March - April)
- Childcare volunteer
- Clothing Room Attendant
- Clothing Room Processor
- Administrative Support
Group Volunteer Opportunities:
- Maintenance Projects (painting, cleaning, landscaping)
- Community Breakfast (requires a $300 donation for food)
- Join our team and represent CFLS at Annual Walk & 5K to End HIV (November)
- Christmas Drive: Participate in Adopt-A-Family drive
- Christmas Drive: Donate $50 Visa gift cards as Christmas Gifts to our Milestone residents (November - December)
Mission: Community of Hope's mission is to create opportunities for low-income families in Washington, DC, including those experiencing homelessness, to achieve good health, a stable home, family-sustaining income, and hope. They provide direct services to families, advocate for system change, collaborate with others, and utilize a person-centered, strengths-based, integrated approach to their work.
Website: https://www.communityofhopedc.org/volunteer/general-volunteer-opportunities
Email: volunteer@cohdc.org
Phone: (202) 407-7757
What volunteers do:
- Help out at the after-school program and/or a weekly play night at the two shelters.
- Become a mentor to formerly homeless youth.
- Host birthday and holiday parties at the housing sites.
- Make welcome kits for families arriving into the housing program.
- Provide childcare for kids in the housing program while parents attend meetings and workshops.
- Help out at one of the community events.
FYI:
- Time commitment depends on program, but most volunteers try to commit to two days a month at minimum if they are with a regularly running program for housing clients.
Mission: The mission of Empower DC is to enhance, improve and promote the self-advocacy of low and moderate income DC residents in order to bring about sustained improvements in their quality of life. We accomplish our mission through grassroots organizing and trainings, leadership development, and community education. Empower DC is a citywide, multi-issue, membership-based community organizing project. Empower DC builds campaigns to address key issues that directly-impact our membership.
Website: http://empowerdc.org/leadership/become-a-member/
mail: frances@empowerdc.org
Phone: (202) 234-9119
What volunteers do:
Instead of a volunteer program, Empower offers a membership program (membership costs $10/annually, though this amount can be reduced if an obstacle). As a member, you can:
- Host a house party
- Volunteer during office hours to help with fundraising, research, graphic design, social media, etc.
- Help with community outreach
- Take video or pictures
- Distribute fliers on your block
- Bring updates to my ANC
- Help with phone banking
- Provide transportation
Mission: Friendship Place is a leader in Washington, DC, in developing solutions to homelessness that have demonstrable results and a lasting impact. Our innovative, customized, person-focused programs empower participants to rebuild their lives, find homes, get jobs and reconnect with friends, family and the community, permanently. Our goal is to end homelessness in Washington, DC, and to lead the way in modeling how this can be done in other parts of the country.
Website: https://friendshipplace.org/give-time/
Volunteer form: https://friendshipplace.org/volunteer-form/
Email: info@friendshipplace.org
Phone: (202) 364-1419
What volunteers do:
Individual volunteer opportunities:
- Welcome Center front desk receptionist
- Donation pick-ups
- Job placement
- Mentor
- Movers/clean-up crew
- Chauffeur Team (drive participants to the grocery store, appointments, etc.)
- Office volunteer (administrative)
Group opportunities:
- Landscaping
- Cleaning
- Organizing donations
- Move-ins (for participants moving into housing)
Mission: Habitat for Humanity of Washington DC's mission is to reduce poverty housing and homelessness in the nation’s capital by building decent, affordable, energy-efficient homes for those in need. DC Habitat is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, an organization that brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.
Website: http://www.dchabitat.org/volunteer/
Email: whitney.canon@dchabitat.org
Phone: (202) 882-4600
What volunteers do:
- Haul, dig, measure, cut, pound, raise, demolish or clean (no construction experience necessary)
- Renovate homes affected by Superstorm Sandy
- Enhance playgrounds, community centers, public parks and public schools by painting interiors and murals, landscaping and gardening, or performing minor construction tasks
- Work in ReStore (retail store) in sales, sales, furniture repair, donation procuring, customer service, pricing & visual merchandising, interior design & furniture staging and administrative tasks
- Perform administrative work in family services program (phone calls, filing, scanning, returning emails) or in volunteer services (data entry, phone calls, research). Note: availability during weekdays required.
- Do research for advocacy department
FYI:
- Want to work as a construction volunteer? Volunteer application: http://www.dchabitat.org/volunteer/individual/nuts-bolts-orientation-part-one/
- Have special skills to offer, such as roofing or graphic designing or masonry? Volunteer application: http://www.dchabitat.org/skilled-volunteers-application-form/
- Enjoy office work, and available during weekdays? Volunteer application: http://www.dchabitat.org/non-construction-application-form/
- Able to drop off lunch for a crew hard at work? Email whitney.canon@dchabitat.org
Mission: The mission of the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project is to nurture healthy child development and reduce the effects of trauma among children living in temporary housing programs in Washington D.C. We seek to create a city that provides every opportunity for children in families experiencing homelessness to succeed by ensuring consistent opportunities to play and learn, offering support services for families, and advocating for affordable housing and safe shelter.
Website: http://www.playtimeproject.org/get-involved/volunteer/#
Email: deborah@playtimeproject.org
Phone: (202) 329-4481
What volunteers do:
- Play Ranger volunteers (weekly volunteers in the play programs): Plan and lead arts and crafts projects, ball games, reading, games, and imaginary play activities for children of various ages.
- Volunteers in Motion (individuals with cars): Move donations from the office to program locations (times/dates of drop off/pick up based on volunteer availability and amount of donations).
- Adopt a Playroom (groups): Maintain safe playrooms by cleaning and organizing play spaces and sanitizing toys. Involves some flexibility in scheduling a date, and the possibility of completing the cleaning on a weekend day. Recommended for groups of about 10 volunteers.
- Birthday Parties and Special Events (groups): Groups of 5-10 volunteers (ages 18+) bring a pizza party and extra supplies or decorations, as well as plan and lead appropriate holiday activities - under close supervision of our Site Manager and weekly Playtime volunteers. Parties take place during weekday evening hours.
FYI:
- Play Ranger volunteers (weekly volunteers in the play programs):
- Volunteers are expected to make a two-hour weekly commitment for at least six months, and should come with experience working with children and an interest in supporting healthy child development.
- Volunteers must be ages 18 and older.
- The steps to volunteer: Attend a monthly training --> complete an application and background check --> sign a waiver --> match with a site --> begin volunteering --> attend a safe shore training.
- Group volunteer opportunities (Adopt a Playroom and Birthday Parties/Special Events):
- Link to group volunteer interest form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdLaYnre7Uu3WjZrOp7Sg6GXlBxMbSCpAsjZ1JOIjN3nKebBw/viewform
Mission: Our mission is to end chronic homelessness in Washington, DC through the following ways:
- We connect our chronically homeless guests with the highest quality, most nutritious meals in the city.
- Our Case Managers build a community where each individual feels safe getting the help that they need, when they are ready to receive it.
- In partnership with people who have experienced homelessness, we advocate for the D.C. government to make investments in the housing programs that are most proven to end homelessness. Meanwhile, we partner with other service providers and government agencies to change the way homeless services are delivered in Washington.
- The most successful intervention for chronic homelessness is Permanent Supportive Housing, which couples permanent housing with supportive services that target the specific needs of an individual.
Website: https://miriamskitchen.org/volunteer/
Email: volunteer@miriamskitchen.org Please see volunteer page for more specific contact emails.
Phone: (202) 452-8926
What volunteers do:
- Kitchen: Volunteers help serve a meal or do prep work for a future meal. We ask that kitchen volunteers commit to one regular shift per month. Shifts are Breakfast M-F 6-830am, Dinner M-F 4-630pm, Prep Tues and Thurs 12-2pm
- Guest services: Volunteers can help distribute toiletries, fulfill clothing orders, or simply engage with our guests. Some volunteers help by giving haircuts, manicures, or writing resumes. Do you have some other skills to offer? Let us know! Times are M-F 6-8:30am and 4-5:45pm
- Miriam's studio: Volunteers can lead a writing group or assist the art therapist before, during, or after studio time. Writing Group leader M-F 8:30-9:15am, 2:30-4:15pm. Art Helpers M-F 8-10am, 11-2pm, or 2:15-4pm.
- Advocacy: Volunteers can support the advocacy team by lending your writing, communications, and media skills to our campaign.
FYI:
- Check out FAQs at https://miriamskitchen.org/volunteer-faqs/ for more specific volunteer information.
- New volunteers must first attend a volunteer orientation session.
- Volunteer shifts are only during the week, not the weekend.
- You must commit to once a month on an ongoing basis.
Mission: At ONE DC, our mission is to exercise political strength to create and preserve racial and economic equity in Shaw and the District. We seek to create a community in DC that is equitable for all.
ONE DC envisions the nation's capital as a place where low income, poor, and immigrant communities are organized, educated, and trained to take action to create and preserve social and economic equity. The membership and leadership of ONE DC will build on and organize with the participatory democracy goals and principles taught by Ella Jo Baker. The people's vision is to build power and advantage for communities of color, the working poor, and other groups of oppressed people through grassroots organizing and leadership development. We will develop membership and staff committed to building lifelong relationships with ONE DC and its mission. Ultimately, ONE DC seeks to develop grassroots leadership that will build a movement for positive systematic change.
Website: http://www.onedconline.org/
Volunteer form: http://www.onedconline.org/volunteer
Email: organizer@onedconline.org
Phone: (202) 232-2915
What volunteers do:
- Phone bank to invite members to meetings & events.
- Host a house party fundraiser.
- Work on social media & media/communications strategy.
- Join the outreach team to recruit new ONE DC members through flyering, canvassing, & door-knocking.
- Provide transportation for members to meetings & events.
- Provide childcare at meetings & events.
- Assist the Admin & Organizational Management Committee.
- Join the Resource Development Committee (grantwriting, fundraising).