A Child's Place of Charlotte

A Child's Place (ACP) works to erase the impact of homelessness on children and their education.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  Lunch or Breakfast Buddy
  Lunch Buddies provide a mentoring friendship for the children. Each volunteer is assigned a student to be their “buddy.” The volunteer comes to school once a week to have lunch with their buddy, talk, play games or read.
• family-friendly opportunity


• Volunteer As A Group
  Lunch Buddy For a Day
  This program allows a group to get a feel for what being a lunch buddy or tutor would be like. The day starts off with a presentation about A Child’s Place and other community resources for the underprivileged in our community. This is followed by lunch with a group of client children and then a group session afterwards to discuss your experiences.


• Donate Items
  A Child's Place client children are always in need of:
  
  
  • Uniforms (sizes 4T-Adult) for boys and girls
    blue/khaki pants, skirts, shorts and white button-up shirts
  • Other Clothing
    underwear, socks, bras (all sizes)
  • Hygiene Items
    toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, lotion, chap stick, feminine hygiene napkins
  • School Supplies
    rulers, pencils (lead and mechanic), pens, loose leaf paper, spiral notebooks, composition books, erasers, glue, markers, crayons, colored pencils, highlighters, scissors, protractors, calculators, folders, binders, combination locks, hand sanitizer, hand soap, facial tissues
  • Snacks
    Individually pre-packaged nonperishable items including – Juice Boxes, Fruit Snacks, Fruit Cups, Raisins, Breakfast bars, crackers, pretzels, cookies, granola bars, yogurt snacks, goldfish crackers, individual cereal boxes
  • ITEMS WE DO NOT TAKE
    ANY USED ITEMS (even gently used) including clothes, stuffed animals which may be donated to Crisis Assistance Ministries or Salvation Army; homemade snacks, etc.
  • EXTRAORDINARY GIFTS
    Please contact (704) 943-9532 to discuss.

Charlotte Rescue Mission

Our mission is to minister the Good News of Christianity to individuals caught in the crisis of poverty, hopelessness or addictions by meeting their spiritual, physical and emotional needs.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  Resident Tutor
  Tutors work with our residents on basic reading and math skills, as well as with those working toward successful completion of their GED.
• family-friendly opportunity


• Volunteer As A Group
  Dove's Nest
  Groups assist with meal preparation and service for our residents, which includes the opportunity to fellowship with our residents. Opportunities are available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days per week. Financial sponsorship of meals is greatly appreciated, but not required.


• Donate Items
  
  • Shower shoes are needed for both men and women.
  • Full size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion are needed for both men and women.
  • Disposable razors are needed for both men and women.
  • CATS bus passes are needed for all residents, allowing them to search for employment.
  • Flash drives (16 GB and up) are needed for all residents to store educational and work related documents.
  • Sets of Twin XL sheets are needed.
  • Laundry PODS are needed for resident use.
  • Combination locks are needed for all residents.
  • Standard pillows are needed for all residents.

Florence Crittenton Services

The mission of Florence Crittenton Services is to promote health and hope for tomorrow's children by providing comprehensive health, educational and social services for single, pregnant and non-pregnant adolescents, women and their families.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  Special Events Volunteer
  Assistance with various administrative duties required for each of our special events including annual luncheon, fashion show, golf tournament and arts event.
• Teens are welcome to volunteer along with a parent.
• family-friendly opportunity


• Volunteer As A Group
  Groups are welcome to provide and serve meals for our residents. These events often occur with special holiday themes or as a "baby shower" event.
• family-friendly opportunity


• Donate Items
  Single bed sheets, blankets, pillows, bath towels sets, laundry detergent, laundry baskets/hampers, diapers (all sizes), alarm clocks, back packs with school supplies, gas/gift cards.

Hope Haven

Hope Haven, a foundation of recovery, provides life skills for homeless, chemically dependent adults and families within a supportive residential environment, leading to independence.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  Activities
  Lead and facilitate an activity, such as crafts, crochet, games, cooking class, birthday parties, etc, while providing companionship for Hope Haven residents. Volunteers coordinate ideas and activity plan with staff, lead the activity and provide general friendship and interaction with Hope Haven residents. Also as van drivers in our vans to 12 step meetings.
• family-friendly opportunity


• Volunteer As A Group
  Community Room Partners
  Adopt one of Hope Haven's community rooms and live out a HGTV moment. Work together as a team and decide upon a room design for one of Hope Haven's community rooms, which promote socialization for residents. Volunteers will purchase all of the needed items and spend a day or two decorating the room.
• family-friendly opportunity


• Donate Items
  
  • Hygiene items
  • New or clean linens and towels
  • Tutoring resources (reading, flashcards & math workbooks grades 1-9)
  • Phonics workbooks
  • Tools
  • Pocket Dictionaries
  • Recovery Books (AA/NA)
  • Car in good condition for transporting residents

Men's Shelter of Charlotte

The Men's Shelter of Charlotte is dedicated to providing safe emergency shelter while working to end homelessness for each man.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  HERC Volunteer
  Housing & Employment Resource Center
  Assist clients in searching for employment and housing via the internet. Assist clients in obtaining foundation documents (i.e. birth certificate, NC ID, social security card, or credit report). Opportunities from 9:00am - 10:00pm (2-6 hour increments).
• All volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, complete a volunteer application and sign a confidentiality waiver.


• Volunteer As A Group
  Kitchen/Meal Service Volunteer
  Volunteers will assist in preparing and serving the meal. Groups of 7-12 volunteers are needed for each meal served. The Men's Shelter of Charlotte serves 3 meals every day of the week.
• All volunteers must be 18 or older unless previously approved by the Community Resource Coordinator. All volunteers must complete a volunteer application and sign a confidentiality waiver.


• Donate Items
  Clothing items:
  
  
  • (New) Men’s Underwear (Boxers or Briefs Sizes M-5XL)
  • (New) Men’s T-Shirts (Undershirts) (Sizes M-5XL)
  • Men's Socks
  • Hats, Gloves, Coats

The Relatives

The Relatives Crisis Center provides a safe location for youth 7-17 who have run away from home, are homeless or just going through a rough family situation with nowhere else to turn. On Ramp is a Resource Center for any young adult 16-24 years old in Mecklenburg County who may need help making the successful evolution from youth to being an independent adult. Journey Place is a specialized program for young adult males 18-21 who are aging out of foster care and need assistance making the transition from foster care to being an independent adult.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  The Relatives provides a variety of opportunities for volunteers – for both individuals interested in working directly with youth and those who just want to “help out around the house.” We regularly enlist the help of businesses, church groups, youth programs and others to help paint inside and out, maintain the yard, or tackle larger maintenance projects. Many of the same groups may also choose to provide activities for the youth, including art projects or recreational opportunities.
• family-friendly opportunity


• Volunteer As A Group
  
  • Organizing an evening or weekend activity with the youth, including games, craft projects, presentations/demonstrations, cooking lessons, and more.
  • Sponsoring or donating dinner or lunch – groups bring dinner on a regular schedule and stay for food and fellowship.
  • Done-in-a-Day projects like spring and fall yard maintenance, window cleaning, organizing, and other chores.
  • Tutoring and mentoring.
  • Helping organize agency activities.
• family-friendly opportunity


• Donate Items
  
  • Deodorant/anti-perspirant
  • Body wash and body puffs
  • Shampoo and styling products
  • Soap, all-natural or Dove
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss (travel size)
  • Hair combs and brushes, wavy brushes
  • Hair grease, gel, and hair moisturizer
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Toilet paper
  • Mattress pad
  • Mattress covers (plastic)
  • Twin sheet sets

Urban Ministry Center

The Urban Ministry Center is an interfaith agency dedicated to bringing the community together to end homelessness...one life at a time.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  We invite volunteers to be part of our weekday support team. Volunteers help us run our basic services through a variety of positions:
  
  • Front desk or upstairs reception
  • Counselor
  • Personal services assistant (shower and laundry)
  • Computer lab support
  • Job search support
  • Van driver
  • Mail sorter (10:30 – 12:30)
  • Office & staff assistant (times flexible)
  • Data Entry (times flexible)
  Visit our website to learn more about becoming a volunteer.
• family-friendly opportunity


• Volunteer As A Group
  Operation Sandwich
  Urban Ministry Center serves nearly 300,000 sandwiches in one year! We invite your group to prepare sandwiches for our soup kitchen through our "Operation Sandwich" effort. Click here to learn more.


• Donate Items
  
  • Men's razors
  • Spray deodorant
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Hand sanitizers (32 ounce & travel sizes)
  • Reading glasses
  • Backpacks
  • Towels & washcloths
  • Bathrobes
  • White socks (new, men's and women's)
  • Gain liquid laundry detergent

Florence Crittenton Services

Florence Crittenton Services of North Carolina promotes health and hope for tomorrow's children by providing comprehensive health, educational and social services for single pregnant and non-pregnant adolescents, women and their families.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  Florence Crittenton Services
  The residents need assistance in finding employment and maintaining an income. Individual volunteers would be able to assist residents by teaching job readiness classes, budgeting classes, tutoring, and one on one mentoring.


• Donate Items
  Florence Crittenton Services
  FCS residents are constantly trying to obtain employment and income through computer based research in the vocational resource lab. In-kind donations of computers would help expand the vocational resource lab as well as enable staff to assist residents in their search.

Innovative Community Resources NC

Our mission is to provide services and resources in an integral and innovative service delivery system that will promote and improve the mental health, physical health, and behavioral health by assisting clients with removing barriers that interefere with self-sufficiency.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  SOAR Disability Services
  (Disability Representation/Organizational Representative Program)
  To perform office support functions such as answering the phone, filing, etc.
• Must have office experience, good communication skills and good computer skills.

Jacob's Ladder Job Center

Our mission is to help the unemployed and the underemployed to get and keep a living wage job.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  Jacob's Ladder Job Center
  Help clients with very basic computer skills, how to complete an online job application, conduct a simple search of job opportunities, etc.
• Must be over 20.


• Volunteer As A Group
  Jacob's Ladder Job Center
  Assess client skills and obstacles to employment. To conduct mock interviews, and/or assist in facilitating small group discussions in the classroom.
• Must be over 20.

Men's Shelter of Charlotte

The Men's Shelter of Charlotte is dedicated to providing safe emergency shelter while working to end homelessness for each man.

• Volunteer As A Group
  Lead a class to present resume writing skills, job interview skills, basic financial skills or legal aid.
• Maximum of 4-5 volunteers per group.
  Must be 18 years of age or older.

Supportive Housing Communities
(formerly St. Peter's Homes, Inc.)

Our mission is to provide affordable housing to alleviate homelessness and human suffering.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  McCreesh Place
  Provide computer skills training and job search assistance using computers on a regular schedule.
• Must be over 18.


• Donate Items
  McCreesh Place
  Donate up to 5 computers for resident use for skills training, job searches, etc.

Urban Ministry Center

The Urban Ministry Center is an interfaith organization dedicated to bringing the community together to end homelessness….one life at a time.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  Job Coaching
  Assist our homeless neighbors in searching for jobs, connecting to employment resources, preparing for employment opportunities, and addressing employment barriers.
  
  Currently, the volunteer opportunity is for Wednesdays from 1:30-4:30p. Although, we would like to expand service to other weekday afternoons.



SABER combines three months of treatment and six months of continuing care, with the guarantee of free housing, contingent on the person staying drug and alcohol free.

• Donate Items
  SABER: Substance Abuse Education & Recovery
  If you are an employer, consider offering an entry-level position to one of our SABER graduates. Employers will be provided with a contact at the SABER program if issues were to occur during the course of employment.
• SABER graduates often have a previous criminal background.

Charlotte Family Housing

Our mission is to empower homeless families to achieve long-term self-sufficiency through shelter, housing, support services and advocacy.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  Volunteers are needed to serve as overnight hosts Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights at each shelter site. Overnight hosts arrive at 8:00 p.m. and can leave after 6:30 a.m. the next morning. We offer a private room with a private bath for our volunteers, as well as WIFI, a private TV and coffee. Serving as an overnight host saves CFH over $100 per night at each of our shelter sites, and is a critical volunteer need for our program.
• family-friendly opportunity
• Background screening required for overnight volunteers.


• Volunteer As A Group
  Groups and individuals are needed to organize activities for children, maintain the landscaping and assist with regular deep cleaning of the facilities. Volunteers are welcome to suggest other activities where they can share their gifts and talents.
• family-friendly opportunity


• In-Kind Donations
  Welcome basket items, which are given to families when they enter one of our shelters and are taken with them when they move into housing, including full/twin sheet sets, full/twin comforters, bath towels, plate sets, utensils and pots and pans.

Community Link

Our mission is to enable individuals and families to obtain and sustain safe, decent and affordable housing.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  Guest Services Member
  Availability: M-F, 8-5; times vary
  If you enjoy greeting and talking with people, this is the role for you! We look for enthusiastic individuals to help manage our front desk. For consistency, we ask for a commitment of at least once a week for at least two hours.


• Committee Service
  Availability: Ongoing, monthly
  Serving behind-the-scenes might be your passion. If so, we hope you'll consider sharing your time and expertise on one of our organizational committees (audit, endowment, finance, human resources, marketing/development, strategic planning, Sweet Escapes Special Event). Meeting times are limited, but your involvement is priceless. You'll offer feedback and insight to help develop, guide, and strengthen Community Link. And, it's a great networking opportunity!


• Tax Aide
  Availability: Yearly - Jan.-April
  Site Coordinator
  Quality Reviewer
  Tax Preparer
  Greeter
  Interpreter
  Scheduler
  Intern
  
  Training: 16-24 hour classroom training or online self-study for most positions. Must pass volunteer certification.
  
  The first answer to your question is no - you don't need to be a tax attorney to lend your time as a Tax Aide. But yes to making a positive impact on the lives of seniors and low-income individuals and families. You'll complete basic tax returns for a targeted population in our community that are challenged to pay out of pocket for these services. Training is provided. Maybe not wanting to file taxes? Other opportunities include appointment setters, greeters, and site coordinators as well.


• Financial Coach
  Availability: Ongoing, monthly
  
  Training: Up to two hour orientation, provided the third Thursday of each month.
  Stretch a mind to exercise good financial decisions! You'll pair with a Community Link customer to mentor them on basic financial decision-making and help that individual build a better future. A certified financial advisor is not who you need to be - rather, you'll become a trusted friend to join a customer on their journey to self-sufficiency.
• family-friendly opportunity


• Volunteer As A Group
  Welcome Crew
  Welcome a formerly homeless family to their new home - with a provision of supplies. Perhaps it's a bed and bath basket; children's needs; or just basic household supplies.
  
  Groups enjoy collecting these treasured items knowing they'll make a huge difference in a family's life. In some cases, you might be able to make the delivery!


• Donation Request
  Bathroom cleaner, brooms/mops, paper towels
  Laundry baskets
  Pots, pans, dishes
  Shower curtain, shower hooks
  Toothpaste, tooth brushes, toilet paper
  Towels, dish cloths, dish towels

Crisis Assistance Ministry

The Furniture Bank provides essential housing items such as household appliances, beds, and other furniture to families who have overcome homelessness or have other urgent needs.

• Volunteer As A Group
  Furniture Bank Collection Drive
  A furniture drive is an effort to collect needed items for the Crisis Assistance Ministry Free Store. Groups can coordinate furniture drives on their own with assistance from our Volunteer Coordinator.
• family-friendly opportunity



The Free Store allows our neighbors in need to come and "shop" for household goods, clothes, and other essentials free of charge.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  Free Store Clothing Drive
  A drive is an effort to collect needed items for the Crisis Assistance Ministry Free Store. Individuals can coordinate clothing drives on their own with assistance from our Volunteer Coordinator.
• family-friendly opportunity

Charlotte Rescue Mission

Our mission is to minister the Good News of Christianity to individuals caught in the crisis of poverty, hopelessness or addictions by meeting their spiritual, physical and emotional needs.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  Resident Tutor
  Tutors work with our residents on basic reading and math skills, as well as with those working toward successful completion of their GED.
• family-friendly opportunity


• Volunteer As A Group
  Dove's Nest
  Groups assist with meal preparation and service for our residents, which includes the opportunity to fellowship with our residents. Opportunities are available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days per week. Financial sponsorship of meals is greatly appreciated, but not required.


• Donate Items
  
  • Shower shoes are needed for both men and women.
  • Full size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion are needed for both men and women.
  • Disposable razors are needed for both men and women.
  • CATS bus passes are needed for all residents, allowing them to search for employment.
  • Flash drives (16 GB and up) are needed for all residents to store educational and work related documents.
  • Sets of Twin XL sheets are needed.
  • Laundry PODS are needed for resident use.
  • Combination locks are needed for all residents.
  • Standard pillows are needed for all residents.

Friendship CDC

Our mission is to provide temporary housing for single adult homeless women in a safe environment, while offering life skills training that will empower them to become self-sufficient citizens.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  Please see website.


• Volunteer As A Group
  Please see website.


• Donate Items
  Please see website.

Hope House Foundation

The mission of the Hope House Foundation is to provide transitional housing and supportive services to women and children who are experiencing homelessness in the Lake Norman area in order for them to procure long-term housing and self-sufficiency.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  Resident Advisor
  Resident Advisor Volunteers to monitor Hope House must be women, age 21 or older, who will commit to answering the phone and door, and spending general time with the women and children of Hope House 1-2 times per month for up to 3 hrs per shift. The house is located in Huntersville, NC. Volunteer must be a female 21 years of age or older willing to be trained and commit to 1-2 times per month for a 5-hour shift. Background check required.
• Must be a female 21 years of age or older. Background check required.
• family-friendly opportunity


• Volunteer As A Group
  Hope House offers many opportunities for the community to volunteer doing tasks such as handyman services, life skills training, arts & crafts, mentoring, "group service days", special event volunteers or by simply collecting needed items for the home.


• Donate Items
  Residents at Hope House generally purchase and prepare their own meals. However sometimes we do have a need to supply either food or household items, which is why we would prefer gift card donations such as Walmart or Target instead of canned or packaged food.
  
  Paper products, cleaning and laundry supplies and personal items such as soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant and feminine care products.

Men's Shelter of Charlotte

The Men's Shelter of Charlotte is dedicated to providing safe emergency shelter while working to end homelessness for each man.

• Donate Items
  Donations for Men Moving Out
  Collect and donate household items to men as they move to housing. Examples include plates, silverware, glasses, coffee cups, cooking utensils, kitchen and bath towels, shower curtain, bath mat, and light bulbs.
• family-friendly opportunity
• All volunteers are welcome to run an off-site donation drive.

The Relatives

The Relatives Crisis Center provides a safe location for youth 7-17 who have run away from home, are homeless or just going through a rough family situation with nowhere else to turn. On Ramp is a Resource Center for any young adult 16-24 years old in Mecklenburg County who may need help making the successful evolution from youth to being an independent adult. Journey Place is a specialized program for young adult males 18-21 who are aging out of foster care and need assistance making the transition from foster care to being an independent adult.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  The Relatives provides a variety of opportunities for volunteers – for both individuals interested in working directly with youth and those who just want to “help out around the house.” We regularly enlist the help of businesses, church groups, youth programs and others to help paint inside and out, maintain the yard, or tackle larger maintenance projects. Many of the same groups may also choose to provide activities for the youth, including art projects or recreational opportunities.
• family-friendly opportunity


• Volunteer As A Group
  
  • Organizing an evening or weekend activity with the youth, including games, craft projects, presentations/demonstrations, cooking lessons, and more.
  • Sponsoring or donating dinner or lunch – groups bring dinner on a regular schedule and stay for food and fellowship.
  • Done-in-a-Day projects like spring and fall yard maintenance, window cleaning, organizing, and other chores.
  • Tutoring and mentoring.
  • Helping organize agency activities.
• family-friendly opportunity


• Donate Items
  
  • Deodorant/anti-perspirant
  • Body wash and body puffs
  • Shampoo and styling products
  • Soap, all-natural or Dove
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss (travel size)
  • Hair combs and brushes, wavy brushes
  • Hair grease, gel, and hair moisturizer
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Toilet paper
  • Mattress pad
  • Mattress covers (plastic)
  • Twin sheet sets

YWCA Central Carolinas

YWCA Central Carolinas is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  Please see website.


• Volunteer As A Group
  Please see website.


• Donate Items
  Please see website.

Mecklenburg County Community Support Services

Our mission is to Offers assistance to domestic victims, offenders and child witnesses as well as displaced homemakers, veterans, homeless individuals and individuals living in targeted neighborhoods.

"We strive to improve citizens' self-sufficiency, health and safety through a wide array of quality services and community partnerships."

• Volunteer As An Individual
  Homeless Resource Center
  The Homeless Resource Center partners with community organizations and faith based groups to provide meals to the homeless and help link them to other needed services. There are volunteer opportunities in this setting. Mecklenburg County partners with Hands On Charlotte and there are also opportunities through that collaboration. The Veterans Stand Down is held annually with volunteer opportunities.
• family-friendly opportunity


• Volunteer As A Group
  Please see above.


• Donate Items
  We collaborate with community organizations who donate such items for the homeless and for veterans.

Urban Ministry Center

The Urban Ministry Center is an interfaith agency dedicated to bringing the community together to end homelessness...one life at a time.

• Volunteer As An Individual
  We invite volunteers to be part of our weekday support team. Volunteers help us run our basic services through a variety of positions:
  
  • Front desk or upstairs reception
  • Counselor
  • Personal services assistant (shower and laundry)
  • Computer lab support
  • Job search support
  • Van driver
  • Mail sorter (10:30 – 12:30)
  • Office & staff assistant (times flexible)
  • Data Entry (times flexible)
  Visit our website to learn more about becoming a volunteer.
• family-friendly opportunity


• Volunteer As A Group
  Operation Sandwich
  Urban Ministry Center serves nearly 300,000 sandwiches in one year! We invite your group to prepare sandwiches for our soup kitchen through our "Operation Sandwich" effort. Click here to learn more.


• Donate Items
  
  • Men's razors
  • Spray deodorant
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Hand sanitizers (32 ounce & travel sizes)
  • Reading glasses
  • Backpacks
  • Towels & washcloths
  • Bathrobes
  • White socks (new, men's and women's)
  • Gain liquid laundry detergent