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. Our online volunteer application will be back on the website by mid-January.
- 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 volunteer needs:
Driver
We are developing a pool of drivers to help transport our clients to and from medical and dental appointments. A valid driver’s license is required. A Raleigh Rescue Mission vehicle is available for you to use.
Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission
Days/Times:
Monday through Friday, morning or afternoon
Frequency:
Daily, Weekly, Monthly
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
Babysitter
We are developing a pool of babysitters who can play with the children so that their mothers can attend classes or program appointments. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission
Days/Times:
Weekday evenings as needed, most likely 7pm-9pm; 3rd Thursday of each month, 5pm-7pm
Frequency:
3rd Thursday of each month; as needed
NOTE: We have a special, short-term need for child care volunteers each Thursday evening from January 19 through March 22 to care for children from infancy through middle school age whose parents will be attending a parenting workshop. Volunteers must be available from 6:45pm to 8:15pm, at least 18 years old and able to furnish two references. If you can help, please contact Holly Cook at hollyc@raleighrescue.org or 919.828.9014 ext. 126.
Front Desk Receptionist
Volunteers are needed to monitor the front door and interact with visitors. This is a trained volunteer position. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission Front Lobby
Days/Times:
Monday-Friday: 6pm-8pm;
Saturday and Sunday: 2-hour to 4-hour shifts available between 9am and 8pm
Frequency:
Weekly, Twice-monthly, Monthly
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, 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 (computer skills class); 2pm-4pm (GED class)
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: 2pm-4pm
Frequency:
Daily, Weekly
Children's Development Center Substitute
Volunteers who enjoy young children ages 2 1/2 - 5 are needed to substitute occasionally in the the Children's Development Center. Reference checks, as well as a TB test, are required.
Location:
Raleigh Rescue Mission W.E. Mangum Children’s Development Center
Days/Times:
Monday-Friday: 8am-4pm, 8am-12pm or 2-4pm
Frequency:
As needed
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
Frequency:
Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly
Days/Times:
Monday - Sunday
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
Current needs: Volunteers for lunch prep Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays; Volunteers to serve and clean up Mondays, some Fridays
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
Current needs: Volunteers for dinner prep Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
NOTE: At this time, we do not need individual volunteers to help with dinner on Saturdays or Sundays
Food Pantry Organization
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
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. You may use your own vehicle or a Mission vehicle. A valid 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
Bahama Breeze Pickup -- CURRENTLY FILLED
A volunteer is needed to pick up donations from Bahama Breeze restaurant on Wake Forest Road on Wednesday afternoons and deliver them to Raleigh Rescue Mission. You may use your own vehicle or a Mission vehicle. A valid driver's license is required.
Location:
Bahama Breeze, 3309 Wake Forest Road, to Raleigh Rescue Mission
Days/Times:
Wednesday; donations to be picked up between 2pm and 4pm
Frequency:
Weekly
Mimi's Pickup -- CURRENTLY FILLED
A volunteer is needed to pick up donations from Mimi's restaurant on Plantation Center Drive (off Capital Blvd. near Triangle Town Center) on Wednesday afternoons and deliver them to Raleigh Rescue Mission. You may use your own vehicle or a Mission vehicle. A valid driver's license is required.
Location:
Mimi's restaurant, 6320 Plantation Center Drive, to Raleigh Rescue Mission
Days/Times:
Wednesday; donations to be picked up between 2pm and 4pm
Frequency:
Weekly
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. You may use your own vehicle or a Raleigh Rescue Mission vehicle. A valid NC driver's license is required.
Location:
Whole Foods Wade Avenue to Raleigh Rescue Mission
Days/Times:
Tuesday, Thursday: 8am-9:30am; Sunday: 10:00am-11:30am
Frequency:
Weekly
Starbucks Pickup -- CURRENTLY FILLED
Volunteers are needed to pick up pastry donations from Starbucks at Triangle Town Center in North Raleigh, deliver them to Raleigh Rescue Mission and unload them in the kitchen. A valid NC driver's license is required.
Location:
Starbucks at Triangle Town Center to Raleigh Rescue Mission
Days/Times:
Tuesday, Friday: anytime from 7:30am-9pm
Frequency:
Once or twice per week
Group Volunteer Opportunities
Click each heading below for a full description of volunteer needs:
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:
1st and 3rd Saturdays each month, time to be determined
Frequency:
one or two times per month
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 8. Suitable for older youth groups (15 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
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, either on a recurring basis or one time
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:
Weekly during warm weather (April through mid-October), either on a recurring basis or one time
Color Our World…Beige!
We 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:
March, June, September
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:
Weekly March through October, either on a recurring basis or one time
Kitchen Cleaners
Volunteers are 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:
January, March/April, October, either on a recurring basis or one time
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 children’s 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:
Either on a recurring, monthly basis 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:
Either on a recurring, monthly basis 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 2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays
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 Saturdays are filled except for the 4th Saturday of each month; 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). Groups are needed for the 1st, 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month and the 1st Sunday of every other month.
Sunday Sack Lunches -- VOLUNTEER GROUP NEEDED FOR 1st SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH!
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 85 lunches and deliver them to the Mission on Saturday. This a fantastic opportunity for groups!
Location:
Drop off to Raleigh Rescue Mission
Days/Times:
Saturday
Frequency:
Monthly
Lunches to Go
We have several women and children who use our Emergency Overnight Services 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 25 lunches each day of the week.
Location:
Drop off to Raleigh Rescue Mission
Days/Times:
Sunday-Saturday prior to 7pm for next-day distribution
Frequency:
Daily, Weekly, Monthly
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 your coupons and have each group member shop with their family to donate an item on the list.
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.
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| Lunches to Go | 165.55 KB |
| Sunday Sack Lunches | 191.78 KB |
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