Volunteer Opportunities

What types of volunteer projects are available for my group?

Group project options typically include:

• Nutrition Center Project: In our state licensed food handling and prep area, we can package produce, create healthy frozen meals, and prepare sandwiches, salads and more for our clients experiencing homelessness.
  10 individuals or less, ages 8 and up.
• Sorting Event: Our Food Distribution Center processes and distributes tens of thousands of pounds of food a month. Our thrift stores process dozens of bins of donated clothing and household items every day.  Bring a group and spend a few hours helping us sort food or thrift donations.
  Suitable for groups of all sizes, ages 8 and up.
• Gleaning: Gleaning is harvesting the produce left after a field has been professionally picked. Once the produce is harvested by volunteers, it is distributed to our pantries and partner agencies instead of being tilled back into the soil. Gleaning typically starts in mid-February and runs every Saturday through the end of April.  To learn more about gleaning click here.
  Suitable for groups of all sizes, ages 5 and up.
• Gardens & Farm: Our nutrition gardens and farm offer opportunities for your group to roll up their sleeves and get dirty!  Help us build planters, maintain the gardens, or prepare plantings!
  Group size varies, ages 13 and up

Is there an age requirement to volunteer at House of Hope?

For recurring volunteer opportunities:

• Youth 14 and older are welcome to volunteer solo at any of our locations with a parent/guardian signature.  They can earn the community service hours they need for school and scholarships while learning important skills that help them when they venture into the workforce.  Many of our youth volunteers work to achieve the President’s Volunteer Service Award, which sets them apart from their peers and looks great on a resume. We are more than happy to provide documentation of hours served at any point.
• Youth under 14 are welcome to volunteer with their parent or guardian at select locations.

For group service projects, age minimums depend on the project.  Please contact us for details.

How long are the shifts and when are they?

Shift schedules vary by location, and some locations are more flexible than others.  Typically, shifts are 4 hours long and begin at either 9:00 am or 12:30 pm.  If you prefer to work a shorter shift or a different time frame, just let us know – we make every attempt to make volunteering as convenient as possible for you!

Can I complete community service hours for school or court?

We do accept some court-ordered community service. To determine if we will be able to accommodate your request, answer the following questions:

• Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
• Have you ever been convicted of a crime involving violence, sexual misconduct, or theft (including fraud)?
• Are you or have you ever been required to register as a sex offender?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, we will not be able to accommodate your request to complete your court-ordered community service with House of Hope.