Volunteer Opportunities with Raleigh Rescue Mission

Thanks for your interest in serving with Raleigh Rescue Mission's Volunteer Ministry. Our Volunteer Ministry seeks to inform and engage committed individuals as well as church, school, civic and corporate groups. We believe our volunteers are our partners in ministering to the homeless and hurting in our community. Our prayer is that you will serve with us for a long time to come.

Please review the information below to familiarize yourself with our current volunteer opportunities. If you see something that interests you, you must then submit an online volunteer application.

  • Please note that we offer only a limited number of one-time and short-term volunteer opportunities for individuals.
  • Double-check the days and times volunteers are needed and confirm that you are available at those times. Please make note as well of those volunteer activities and/or time slots that are currently filled -- it means we do not need additional volunteers in those areas at this time.

Blessings,
Holly Cook, Director of Volunteer Ministry
919.828.9014, Ext. 126 or hollyc [at] raleighrescue [dot] org


 

Individual Volunteer Opportunities

Click each heading below for a full description of our other volunteer needs:

Women's Division Assistant - CURRENTLY FILLED

We need adult female volunteers to assist the Women's Division supervisor one evening a week. Volunteer responsbilities range from unlocking the computer room, to helping with the transition to and from dinner, to retrieving toiletries and other supplies. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. This could be an internship opportunity for a college student able to volunteer more than one evening a week. Dinner is provided.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission

Days/times:
Monday through Friday, 5:30pm-8:30pm

Frequency:
Weekly

Current needs:
volunteer for Monday; volunteer for Wednesday


Babysitter

We are developing a pool of child care volunteers who will tend to the children of RRM so that their mothers can attend classes or program appointments. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission

Days/times:
Thursday, 6:45pm-8:15pm; 3rd Tuesday or Wednesday of every other month, 6pm-8pm; weekdays, evenings or weekends as needed

Frequency:
Weekly on Thursdays; monthly on the 3rd Tuesday or Wednesday; as needed


Children's Tutor - CURRENTLY FILLED

Volunteers with a special love for children are needed during the traditional-calendar school year as tutors/homework helpers for the school-age children at the Mission. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old, patient and able to treat the children with a firm kindness. Guidelines will be provided.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission

Days/times:
Tuesday 7pm-8pm, late August/September until the end of the traditional school year

Frequency:
Weekly, twice-monthly

Lobby Receptionist

Volunteers are needed to monitor the front door and interact with visitors. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and able to train for the position for three to four hours on a weekday (even if the volunteer assignment will be on the weekend).

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission Front Lobby

Days/times:
Monday-Friday: 9am-12pm or 6pm-8pm;
Saturday and Sunday: 9am-12pm or 12pm-3pm

Frequency:
Weekly, twice-monthly, monthly

Current needs:
Thursdays, 6pm-8pm; Fridays, 6pm-8pm; 2nd and 4th Saturdays, 12pm-3pm; 1st Sunday, 9am-12pm; 1st and 3rd Sundays, 12pm-3pm; 2nd and 4th Sundays, 9am-12pm, 12pm-3pm


Donation Center Assistant

Volunteers are needed to receive and sort non-food donations at our Donation Center. Responsibilities include unloading donations from donors' vehicles, preparing tax receipts, sorting donations, tracking inventory levels and restocking items as needed. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and able to lift 30 pounds.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission Donation Center, 1200 Corporation Parkway, Suite 121, Raleigh

Days/times:
Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-2pm or 2pm-6pm

Frequency:
Weekly, twice-monthly, monthly


Tutor

Tutors assist adult RRM clients in building academic, vocational and computer skills. Tutors must be able to explain math or reading concepts from an elementary school level to a high school level. Tutors either work independently with clients or assist students during classes taught by Wake Tech instructors.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission Adult Education Center

Days/times:
Monday-Thursday: 8:30am-11:30am (GED class); 1pm-4pm (computer skills and job search fundamentals classes)
Occasional need for math (and sometimes reading) tutors at times convenient for both RRM client and volunteer tutor

Frequency:
Weekly, twice-monthly

Early Childhood Assistant

Volunteers with a big heart and gentle spirit are needed to assist teachers in our W.E. Mangum Children’s Development Center in caring for children, ages 2 1/2 – 5. Background and reference checks, as well as a TB test, are required. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission W.E. Mangum Children’s Development Center

Days/times:
Monday-Friday: 8am-12pm, 8am-10am or 10am-12pm
Monday-Friday: 2:30pm-4pm

Frequency:
Daily, Weekly

Medical Practitioner

Medical practitioners, including physicians, nutritionists, dietitians, physician's assistants, physical therapists and podiatrists, are needed to conduct workshops in health maintenance and well-being. Experience with the indigent, mentally ill and homeless population is preferred.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission Medical Clinic

Days/times:
Days and hours flexible

Frequency:
As needed


Dentist

Volunteer dentists and dental hygienists are needed during the Mission's quarterly dental clinics, which take place in a fully equipped dental bus supplied by the NC Baptist Men's Medical/Dental Bus Ministry. All dental supplies and equipment are provided.

Location:
Dental bus parked in front of Raleigh Rescue Mission building

Days/times:
Friday: 8am-1pm

Frequency:
Quarterly

Meal Service: Prepare, Serve, Clean Up or Full Service

We provide three nutritious meals a day to our clients. Volunteers assist in preparing meals, serving and cleaning up or helping with all three tasks (full service). Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Please note: Weekend opportunities for individuals are very limited.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission Kitchen

Days/times:
Monday - Sunday

Frequency:
Weekly, biweekly, monthly

Breakfast:
Full Service -- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 5am-8am
NOTE: At this time, we do not individual volunteers to help with breakfast on Saturdays or Sundays

Lunch:
Prep: 9am-11am
Serve and Clean Up: 11am-12:30pm
Full Service: 9am-12:30pm
NOTE: Lunch volunteers are not needed on Saturdays or Sundays

Dinner:
Prep: 2pm-4pm
Serve and Clean Up: 4:45pm-6:30pm
Full Service: 2pm-6:30pm
NOTE: At this time, we do not need individual volunteers to help with dinner on Saturdays or Sundays


Food Pantry Organization -- CURRENTLY FILLED

We are blessed to receive a number of donated food items. We need volunteers to organize, sort and distribute items in the appropriate storage area. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission food pantry, kitchen area

Days/times:
Monday-Friday: 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm

Frequency:
Weekly


Carlie C's Pickup -- CURRENTLY FILLED

Volunteers are needed to pick up food donations on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am-11am, from the Carlie C's IGA grocery store in Garner and deliver them to Raleigh Rescue Mission. A valid driver's license is required.

Location:
Carlie C's IGA, 1514 Garner Station Blvd., Garner, to Raleigh Rescue Mission

Days/times:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10am-11am

Frequency:
Weekly


Chick-fil-A Pickup -- VOLUNTEER NEEDED

A volunteer is needed to pick up food donations on Monday mornings from the Chick-fil-A at Falls Village on Falls of Neuse Road AND the Chick-fil-A at Capital Crossing in North Raleigh, deliver them to Raleigh Rescue Mission and unload them in the kitchen. A valid NC driver's license is required.

Location:
Chick-fil-A at Falls Village, 6701 Falls of Neuse Road, and at Capital Crossing, 4621 Capital Blvd., to Raleigh Rescue Mission

Days/times:
Monday; donations to be picked up between 8:30am and 9:30am

Frequency:
Weekly or Biweekly


HMS Host Pickup -- CURRENTLY FILLED

Volunteers are needed to pick up food donations from HMS Host food service near RDU Airport, deliver them to Raleigh Rescue Mission and unload them in the kitchen. A valid NC driver's license is required.

Locations:
HMS Host, 1025 Airside Drive, Raleigh

Days/times:
Tuesday, Friday; donations to be picked up between 9am and 10:30am

Frequency:
Weekly


Red Lobster Pickup -- CURRENTLY FILLED

A volunteer is needed to pick up donations from the Red Lobster restaurant in Cary on Thursday mornings and deliver them to Raleigh Rescue Mission. A valid NC driver's license is required.

Location:
Red Lobster, 1805 Walnut Street, Cary, to Raleigh Rescue Mission

Days/times:
Thursday; donations to be picked up between 8:30am and 9:30am

Frequency:
Weekly or biweekly


Whole Foods Pickup -- CURRENTLY FILLED

Volunteers are needed to pick up donations from Whole Foods on Wade Avenue, deliver them to Raleigh Rescue Mission and unload in the kitchen. Please note that the Tuesday morning pickup is combined with a pickup of milk from the NC State Dairy. A valid NC driver's license is required.

Location:
Whole Foods Wade Avenue to Raleigh Rescue Mission

Days/times:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday: donations to be be picked up between 8am and 9am

Frequency:
Weekly


 

Group Volunteer Opportunities

Click each heading below for a full description of volunteer needs:

Children's Chapel Coordinators

We need a group of four to six adults to conduct children's chapel on Monday or Friday evening once a month. The group will offer a short Bible story and an accompanying activity, such as a craft, game or song.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission

Days/times:
Monday, Friday, 6:45pm-7:45pm

Frequency:
Monthly

Current needs:
Groups for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Friday of each month, as well as 5th Mondays and 5th Fridays (about once a quarter)


Worship Facilitators

We are looking for a worship group that can provide our clients with a half hour of praise and worship once a month. The group should have no more than five members and include at least one instrumentalist (e.g., guitarist).

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission

Days/times:
Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, 7pm-7:30pm

Frequency:
Monthly

Movers and Shakers/Fresh Start

At Raleigh Rescue Mission, people are getting a fresh start with their lives every day. As clients move out of the Mission into their own homes, your group can be there to support them and give them the encouragement they need. We are looking for adult groups that can help move beds, furniture and other items from the Mission's Donation Center to clients' new homes, as well as provide clients with words of encouragement, a bag of groceries or maybe even a few hours of child care if needed. A Mission vehicle will be available.Group size: 4-10.

Location:
starting at Raleigh Rescue Mission Donation Center

Days/times:
Saturdays as needed; time to be determined

Frequency:
As needed


Rub a Dub Dub, The Walls Need to Be Scrubbed

Help keep the Mission walls clean by bringing cleaning pads and then applying some elbow grease to wipe off smudges. Group size: no larger than 8. This is a great activity for youth and adult groups that can be combined with another volunteer activity.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission

Days/times:
Monday-Friday, about 1 hour between 9am and 5pm

Frequency:
Occasionally


Donation Center

Volunteers are needed at our Donation Center to receive non-food donations, sort donations and restock items as needed. Responsibilities include unloading donations from donors' vehicles and preparing tax receipts. Group size: no larger than 6. Suitable for older youth groups (16 years old and up) with adult supervision and adult groups only.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission Donation Center, 1200 Corporation Parkway, Suite 121, Raleigh

Days/times:
Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-2pm or 2pm-6pm

Frequency:
Weekly, monthly or one time


Outdoor Cleanup Crew

Teams are needed to help clean and maintain the outdoor areas around Raleigh Rescue Mission, including our playground. This includes picking up and disposing of debris, as well as mowing and trimming as needed (groups are asked to bring their own weed eater if possible). If necessary, Raleigh Rescue Mission will provide trash bags and work gloves upon request. Group size: no larger than 8. Adult supervision for volunteers under 18 is required. This is a good activity to combine with another volunteer project, as is it will likely take no longer than 45 minutes (1 1/2 hours if mowing and trimming are required).

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission grounds, RRM playground at the corner of Bloodworth and Hargett streets

Days/Times:
Monday through Saturday, times flexible.

Frequency:
As needed


Vehicle Detailing Teams

Help keep our Mission vehicles clean! This is a wonderful small-group activity. Responsibilities include washing the exterior, vacuuming and cleaning the interior of vehicles. Group size: no larger than 6-8. Adult supervision for volunteers under 18 is required.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission

Days/Times:
Monday-Saturday: 9:30am-11:30am or 1:30-3:30pm

Frequency:
During warm weather (April through mid-October) as needed


Color Our World…Beige!

We occasionally need experienced teams to paint interior walls and trim at Raleigh Rescue Mission. It would be a wonderful blessing for the group to bring supplies such as brushes, rollers, drop cloths, paint pans and buckets, tape, ladders, screwdrivers and paint stirrers. If a group is unable to provide supplies, please notify Raleigh Rescue Mission and they will be provided. We will supply paint. Group size: no larger than 10. For adult groups only.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission

Days/times:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 4-hour shifts between 9am and 4pm

Frequency:
As needed


Grounds Landscaping Crew

This is a great volunteer opportunity for those who love to work outdoors! We need help keeping the grounds maintained by pulling weeds, trimming shrubs, mowing the grass, spreading mulch and fertilizer. Group size: no larger than 5. For adult groups only.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission grounds

Days/times:
Monday-Saturday: 9am-12pm, 1pm-4pm

Frequency:
March through October, as needed


Kitchen Cleaners

Volunteers are occasionally needed to deep clean our kitchen and dining hall by sanitizing the stove, walls, refrigeration units, shelving, food prep workstations, dining hall tables and chairs. Group size: no larger than 8. For adult groups only.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission Kitchen

Days/Times:
Monday-Friday: 9am-12pm

Frequency:
As needed


Adopt a Garden

Create a garden at your home, church, school or, space permitting, even here at Raleigh Rescue Mission! Grow your favorite vegetables or flowers and deliver them to Raleigh Rescue Mission. Groups will provide plants and soil.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission or off-site

Days/times:
If at Raleigh Rescue Mission, Monday-Saturday 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm

Frequency:
As needed

CDC Sanitation Team

Bring your crew of 5-10 people to sanitize the Children’s Development Center. We sanitize to meet the Health Department regulations and to keep the preschool center healthy! This is a great opportunity for groups of middle-school and older youth (adult supervision required) as well as adults.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission Children’s Development Center

Days/times:
Saturday: 9:30am-11:30am

Frequency:
Monthly or one time


CDC Playground Cleanup

Have your crew of 5-10 people come and sanitize the Children's Development Center outdoor playground! This is a great opportunity for groups of middle-school and older youth when combined with the CDC sanitation activity; adult supervision is required.

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission Children's Development Center

Days/times:
Saturday: 9am-10am

Frequency:
Monthly or one time

Meal Service: Prepare, Serve, Clean Up or Full Service

We provide three nutritious meals a day to our clients and need volunteers to help with this service. We invite small groups to assist in preparing, serving and cleaning up following a meal or to do full service, which incorporates everything. We also welcome groups that can “sponsor” a meal by providing and serving the meal, especially on the weekends.

Groups larger than 5-7 people will need to rotate the participation of their members. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and adhere to our dress code (see Volunteer Guidelines for more details).

Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission Kitchen

Frequency:
Prefer groups that can serve on a recurring monthly or bimonthly basis; some one-time opportunities available depending on availability

Days/times:
Monday-Sunday except as noted

Breakfast:
Full Service: 5am-8am Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Current needs: Volunteer groups for 1st Sunday and 3rd Sunday

Lunch:
Prep: 9am-11am
Serve and Clean Up: 11am-12:30pm
Full Service: 9am-12:30pm
NOTE: Weekday opportunities for groups at lunch are very limited. Weekends groups must be able to volunteer for full service (prep, serving and cleanup). All Saturday lunch slots are filled; lunch volunteers are not needed on Sundays.

Dinner:
Prep: 2pm-4pm
Serve and Clean Up: 4:45pm-6:30pm
Full Service: 2pm-6:30pm
NOTE: Weekend groups must be able to volunteer for full service (prep, serving and cleanup). Please note that at this time, all Saturday slots for dinner volunteers are filled in 2013.


Sunday Sack Lunches

Help provide the Sunday noon meal for our clients by making sack lunches that include a sandwich, chips, fruit, dessert and drink. Your group will prepare 70 lunches and deliver them to the Mission on Saturday. This a fantastic opportunity for groups! Please see the document at the bottom of this page entitled "Sunday Sack Lunches" for a list of what should be in each lunch bag and contact Holly to schedule your group.

Location:
Drop off to Raleigh Rescue Mission

Days/Times:
Saturday

Frequency:
Monthly (preferred) or one time

Current needs:
Volunteer group for 3rd Saturday of every other month beginning in July.


Lunches to Go

About 20 women and children stay in our Emergency Overnight Services shelter each night. The lunch bags provided through Lunches to Go will be given to the women and children when they leave in the morning so that they will have a healthy lunch to take with them. We need 20 lunches each day of the week. Please see the document at the bottom of this page entitled "Lunches to Go" for a list of what should be in each lunch bag and contact Holly to schedule your group.

Location:
Drop off to Raleigh Rescue Mission

Days/Times:
Sunday-Saturday prior to 7pm for next-day distribution

Frequency:
Weekly, monthly or one time

Home baked goods are always a welcome treat!

Have a holiday, birthday or "just for the fun of it" party and ask your guests to bring items to donate to the Mission. Examples of items that could be donated include canned goods, pajamas, toiletries, flip-flops, rain ponchos or holiday gifts.

Take construction paper and cover it with clear contact paper to make place mats. You can decorate and write an encouraging word or verse on the placemats. We would need approximately 100.

In your school, church or neighborhood group, create and cut out items to decorate our bulletin board. The board can be decorated with a seasonal theme or an "inspiration and encouragement" theme.

Looking at our urgent needs, create a grocery shopping list, assemble coupons and have each group member shop with their family to donate an item on the list.

Collect items from one of our Tubs of Love categories and deliver them to us in a reusable Rubbermaid tub. Please see the document at the bottom of this page entitled "Tubs of Love" for more information.

Lunches-To-Go is another activity that is great for kids' and adult groups! Click on the Food Services tab for more information.

 

Volunteer Application

We’d love to have you come share your time with us. Click here to get started on your online volunteer application so that we can fit you in just the right role. Important note: If you have court-ordered community service requirements, please contact Allison Hicks at 919.212.0823.

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Tubs of Love 445.79 KB
Sunday Sack Lunches191.78 KB
Lunches to Go186.2 KB