Volunteer opportunities to work with Youth Facing Homelessness

About Volunteering

Volunteering at Outreach is just one of the ways you can be part of the mission to end youth homelessness. We seek to match your passions and gifts with the volunteer opportunities that exist to support our youth and staff as we walk alongside each individual we serve in their journeys. Relationships matter and are the heartbeat of Outreach. By joining a volunteer team, we hope that you feel a sense of community.

Take a look at the opportunities below, both individual and group, and see where you feel you will fit best on the volunteer team. When you’re ready, please submit the proper volunteer interest form to get connected with the volunteer manager today!

Individual Interest Form

Group Interest Form

INDIVIDUAL Volunteer Opportunities

Front Desk Greeter

Consistent volunteers are needed to welcome guests, receive incoming calls, and organize incoming mail for youth. The most needed opportunities fall on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays with morning and afternoon shifts between 9 am and 4 pm. There are also shifts available when the center is closed to youth on Tuesdays and Thursdays if interested. Training will be provided, and you'll be part of an amazing team of staff and volunteers, ensuring youth and young adults are seen, known, and loved.
Program Center Assistant

Eager and curious listeners and positive people are needed to help us see, know, and love youth and young adults at Outreach. Not only will your presence and conversation be a blessing, but you’ll also help with tasks such as overseeing the laundry area, welcoming guests or young adults, helping young adults select clothing from the boutique, and as needed help us serve meals. Opportunities available Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays between 9:30am - 4pm.
Driver

Volunteers ages 25 and older with clean driving records are needed to help transport young adults to the BMV, Vital Records, Social Security Administration, Pedigo Clinic, and other important places. You may use one of our Outreach vehicles or your own vehicle (with proof of insurance). Opportunities available Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays between 9:30am - 4pm.
Resource Advocate

Computer savvy volunteers who are also curious and open-minded are needed to help young adults navigate resources such as applying for SNAP and healthcare or obtaining essential documents. Training will be provided. Opportunities available Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays between 9:30am - 4pm.
Kitchen Support

Volunteers with or without cooking skills are needed to help (at a minimum) serve young adults breakfast or lunch, or if comfortable, cook up breakfast or occasionally help prep Friday lunch.
Donation Center

Organizers by nature or fashionistas or fashionist-sirs are needed to sort donations and keep them organized and accessible for youth and young adults. Great opportunity for younger volunteers as you can help determine what a young adult would want to wear.
Administrative Support

We need computer savvy, detail-oriented folks to help us with various administrative projects, some are ongoing that you could commit to, and some are pop-up needs for more flexible schedules. Tasks could include filing, data entry, document creation, and more.

Submit interest form

GROUP Volunteer Opportunities

Collection Drives

Greatest Needs

Collect items from Outreach’s Greatest Needs List found at the link below. After dropping off your collections, you’ll be invited to learn how we sort and distribute our Greatest Needs items to our youth and young adults
Birthday Bags

We all have birthdays, but unlike most of us, our youth and young adults rarely receive birthday gifts or a celebration. By assembling birthday kits, you and your group (of all ages and any size) will help Outreach recognize and love individuals on their special day
How much does a birthday bag cost to make? Kits cost about $30-35 per gift and typically include a drybag that contains a greeting card (homemade or purchased), a small gift card, a useful item, and a fun/creativity-inspiring gift. Please ensure the bags are similar in contents/value.
Where does this happen? You can assemble the kits in our Program Center or you can assemble the kits at a location that is convenient to you and then arrange a drop-off time to deliver the kits to the Outreach Program Center
Apartment Kits

Transitioning from an unstable housing situation to a more stable home for the first time can be strange and challenging. For many of the youth served at Outreach, this may be their first home and their first time having to consider what they need as they move in. By completing this activity, you and your group (of all ages and any size) will welcome youth into their new homes and provide the very first housewarming gift they’ve ever received.
How much does an apartment kit cost to make? Kits range from $40-60.
Where does this happen? You can assemble the kits at a location that is convenient to you or you can assemble them at our Near Eastside Center
Snack Bags

Provide a variety of snacks (sweet, salty, spicy, healthy/high protein all appreciated) and assemble into bags that we can hand out to young adults at the end of the day. We will provide you a list of suggested items.
Where does this happen? you can choose to make them at Outreach, or you can make them where convenient and drop them off – either way we can try to provide you a tour and overview of Outreach.

Submit Interest Form

Provide/Serve a Meal

Taco Bar

Through October - April, you can come to Outreach on Fridays to prepare, cook and serve a festive Friday taco bar!
What you do: Prepare a taco and nacho bar (or fajitas!) for around 60 hungry people. Groups are asked to bring any necessary ingredients or supplies, but our kitchen has supplemental cooking items such as pots, pans, and many utensils that may help. After serving lunch and cleaning up (dishes, floors, putting stuff away), we’d love for you to stay and engage with our young adults through conversation or card/board games!
Where does this happen? Near Eastside Program Center
When can this happen? Fridays from 10:30 am - 2:30/3 pm (Special lunches on Mondays or Wednesdays are also a possibility)
Cookout

Through May - September, come host a cookout for youth at Outreach’s program center!
What you do: Prepare and grill burgers and brats for around 60 hungry people (or step it up with chicken, kebabs, or something else!). Groups are asked to bring any necessary ingredients or supplies, but our kitchen has supplemental cooking items like pots, pans, and many utensils that may help (including a gas tabletop grill). We aim to keep food rolling off the grill from 12 PM to 2 PM to keep food fresh. After cleaning up (dishes, floors, putting stuff away), we hope you'll stay and engage with our young adults through conversation or card/board games.
Where does this happen? Near Eastside Program Center
When does this happen? Fridays from 10:30 am - 2:30/3 pm (Mondays or Wednesdays can also be a possibility)
Evening Meal at Satellite Centers

Groups who would like to make a monthly or quarterly commitment are needed to provide and serve a meal to our youth and young adults at Satellite locations. We always appreciate a homemade meal (made onsite) that offers some element of choice to some very hungry young people. Depending on the location and timing, we may offer this as a one-time volunteer opportunity as well.
When & where can this happen? Tuesdays at the Southside location from 4 - 6 pm & Thursdays at the Northeast side Center from 4 - 6 pm

Submit Interest Form

Other Opportunities

Program Center Projects

In order to maintain a dignifying space for our youth and young adults, we sometimes have program center projects that groups can come to Outreach and complete. Some projects include tasks as needed such as cleaning washers and dryers, deep cleaning and organizing the kitchen (and potentially ovens) organizing items such as food, clothing and other donations. Weather permitting, tasks could also include outdoor activities such as picking up litter, weeding/light yard work, or washing our vehicles. Depending on the season, we may need help decorating or undecorating the program center.
Decorating

If you have an eye for decorating, then come decorate the Program Center. There are seasonal and holiday decorating opportunities available.
Decorations may be available, and we welcome donations for decor. There is a bonus if you are able to come back and take down the decor at the end of the season.