Volunteers are an important partner in ministering to our clients who are experiencing homelessness! Each year, God blesses us with hundreds of compassionate people who wish to serve. Please read below to learn about the volunteer opportunities currently available.
All NEW volunteers must complete the form here. The form will ask you to select a date for a required volunteer training. Please consider what date you are available before selecting your training. Our trainings are popular and fill up quickly; however, we want to reserve space for individuals who can commit to attending.
Once you complete the volunteer form, look for an email response telling you the next steps. Be sure to check your junk/spam folder as well as your inbox. We hope you will find a great sense of satisfaction in partnering with Raleigh Rescue Mission. Email questions to Volunteer or call (984) 272-2001.
If you are already trained and registered as a volunteer, please visit our volunteer portal to sign up for a volunteer shift.
Select Options:
On April 18, Good Friday, Raleigh Rescue Mission in partnership with Meals on Wheels, Christ the King Presbyterian Church, and Temple Baptist Church will provide meals to those in need in Wake County. This community event will begin with volunteers gathering to pack meals at Christ the King Presbyterian Church/Temple Baptist Church (1417 Clifton Street, Raleigh, NC 27604). Meal distribution will also happen at Christ the King Presbyterian Church/Temple Baptist Church (1417 Clifton Street, Raleigh, NC 27604). We need volunteers to help pack, deliver, and distribute meals. Sign up for the day you would like to volunteer.
On Thanksgiving Day, Raleigh Rescue Mission in partnership with Christ the King Presbyterian Church and Temple Baptist Church will be providing meals to those in need in the Raleigh community. This Turkey Meal Community Event will begin with volunteers gathering to pack meals at Temple Baptist Church (1417 Clifton Street, Raleigh, NC 27604). Meal distribution will also happen at Temple Baptist Church (1417 Clifton Street, Raleigh, NC 27604). We need volunteers to help pack, deliver, and distribute meals. Sign up for the day you would like to volunteer.
On December 20, Raleigh Rescue Mission in partnership with Christ the King Presbyterian Church and Temple Baptist Church will be providing meals to those in need in the Raleigh community. This Turkey Meal Community Event will begin with volunteers gathering to pack meals at Temple Baptist Church (1417 Clifton Street, Raleigh, NC 27604). Meal distribution will also happen at Temple Baptist Church (1417 Clifton Street, Raleigh, NC 27604). We need volunteers to help pack, deliver, and distribute meals. Sign up for the day you would like to volunteer.
Each day at Raleigh Rescue Mission, we hand out bagged meals to our clients who work offsite as well as individuals who come to our front door, seeking a meal. One way you can support the Mission is to pack bagged meals that we can give to others.
In the past few months, we have experienced a much greater need for meals each day. Whereas we were distributing 40 meals per day, we are now distributing 40-60+ meals at each mealtime. The Mission has been covering this need, but we would love your assistance in doing so.
We request that you prepare and deliver at least 40 meals at a time but would appreciate it if you could cover a day’s worth of meals by providing 120 – 180. Please schedule delivery in advance with Carla Tuttle, our Volunteer Engagement Manager, or Madeline Denton, our Volunteer Engagement Coordinator. You can contact one of them at pneyng@enyrvtuerfphr.bet or znqryvarq@enyrvtuerfphr.bet or call 984-272-2001.
Below is a list of items to include in each meal. Every lunch should be in a clear Ziploc bag or brown lunch bag.
Thank you for assisting us in providing for the Raleigh community!
Volunteer Requirements:
Male volunteers work with our male clients, and female volunteers work with our female clients.
4-week Commitment
About Jobs for Life:
Mentor Responsibilities:
Weeks 1-4:
For more details, email Carla Tuttle at pneyng@enyrvtuerfphr.bet.
For more details, email Carla Tuttle or at pneyng@enyrvtuerfphr.bet or Madeline Denton at znqryvarq@enyrvtuerfphr.bet.
Our children’s program is working hard to coach and encourage children in positive behaviors and lifelong good habits! When children meet their behavioral and academic goals, they earn tokens that can be put towards prizes. We want your help in stocking up our Children’s Rewards Store. It is a great way to encourage our children and help motivate them in skills and behaviors that will benefit them throughout their lives!
Please collect an assortment of school-age (6-12 year old) appropriate toys. You can drop off the items at the downtown mission location at 314 E. Hargett Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 Monday through Friday between 9am-5pm.
Host a supply drive
Supply and pack bagged meals (40-120 at a time)
Empathy Program
Complete our volunteer application form linked here and posted to our volunteer page and select a date and time you are available to attend a volunteer orientation and training.
All volunteers who will volunteer individually are required to attend a volunteer orientation and training. Groups who want to volunteer can send 1-2 representatives to a volunteer orientation and training. Those representatives are expected to share the training information with the rest of the group.
Yes, we allow groups of up to 10 volunteers for projects planned at least 30 days in advance. A lead contact for the group will need to attend a volunteer orientation and training prior to the volunteer event and will need to coordinate logistics of the event with Carla Tuttle or Madeline Denton via email or phone: pneyng@enyrvtuerfphr.bet, znqryvarq@enyrvtuerfphr.bet, 984-272-2001.
The minimum age to volunteer onsite is 16 years old. We have offsite volunteer options for individuals who are under age 16 listed at the bottom of this page.
Unfortunately, we do not offer community service hours. You can check with other local organizations for court-mandated hours.
Jobs for Life mentors will need to attend an additional training before being paired with one of our clients. Mentorships last four weeks and require twice-weekly meetings between mentors and mentees. If the mentorship goes well, mentors are encouraged to continue the relationship with the client. With an increased commitment comes an increased impact for the client.
Please contact Carla Tuttle at pneyng@enyrvtuerfphr.bet or 984-272-2001 if you are interested in becoming a mentor to one of our clients.
Children’s ministry volunteers will need to complete a background check as well as an interview. You can contact Carla Tuttle at pneyng@enyrvtuerfphr.bet to initiate the background check process. Once we receive a clear background report, we will reach out to you to schedule an interview.
Please dress in loose-fitting, comfortable, modest clothing. You will not be allowed to enter the building if you are wearing the following: clothing with alcohol, narcotic, violent, sexual themes; racially or culturally insensitive messages or offensive language; a shirt that is low-cut, cropped, backless, has narrow straps (e.g., tank top), is a racerback, or is made with transparent or mesh fabric; shorts; or a skirt/dress that has a high slit or hangs more than two inches above the knee.
Raleigh Rescue Mission is located at 314 E. Hargett Street in downtown Raleigh, between Person and Bloodworth Streets. Volunteers may park in any of the four spaces on the side of the Mission’s building, outside the gate. It is on a first-come, first-served basis. There is two-hour parking on the street on our block, longer-term parking two blocks east, or paid parking in the city parking deck on Blount Street near Marbles Museum and the City Market lot at 230 E. Martin Street. Groups might want to carpool to the Mission when possible. Volunteers parking on the street should pay attention to the street signs and follow the designated guidelines.
Please check in at the front desk when you arrive for your shift. Sign in on the visitor sheet, and wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly. A key staff member will meet you in the lobby and get you started on your shift.
Please notify Carla Tuttle or Madeline Denton via phone or text at 984-272-2001 as soon as you realize you cannot be present for your shift. We plan activities and projects based on volunteers who have signed up to help. When a volunteer has an emergency and needs to cancel, we have to adjust quickly.
Please do not show up to volunteer without first scheduling a shift. We have a full schedule of responsibilities and events every day and need to plan for volunteers in advance.