Volunteer
Make A Difference, One Task at A Time
Volunteers are the backbone of our operations, helping us provide crucial services and support to those in need. From the bottom of our hearts, we’d like to thank you for lending a helping hand to our team at Christian Shelter in Salisbury, MD. Your involvement is essential to our mission, allowing us to serve up to 70 homeless guests each day.
Before you apply, it’s important to familiarize yourself with our volunteer requirements and available opportunities. We welcome individuals, families, and groups who wish to contribute their time and skills. Volunteering can be a rewarding experience, especially when shared with like-minded people.
Requirements for Volunteers
Age Requirements
Youth volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times while on-site. However, there are limited roles available for younger volunteers.
Time Commitment
We ask individual volunteers to commit to a minimum of two hours of continuous work during their shifts. While one-time opportunities may arise, regular commitments help us maximize the impact of your efforts.
Training
All new volunteers will receive training from our Volunteer Manager or a designated staff member. Training can be arranged individually or in groups, depending on the tasks assigned.
Volunteer Opportunities
We offer a variety of roles that cater to different skills and interests:
KitchenAssistant
Help with meal preparation and cleanup during breakfast and dinner shifts. The role allows you to learn about kitchen operations while engaging with guests and fellow volunteers. This opportunity is suitable for those who can commit to at least one to two shifts per week after their training.
Dinner Server
Join a team to finalize dinner preparations and serve meals to 50 to 60 guests. This position is ideal for people looking to volunteer on a regular basis and youth volunteers seeking community service hours. However, minors must still be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Office Assistant
Support shelter staff with daily activities, such as answering phones, receiving donations, filing documents, and checking room statuses.
Childcare Helpers
Childcare helpers supervise children while their parents attend counseling or nightly devotions. They may also need to assist kids in the shelter’s after-school programs.
Laundry Service Helper
Help launder linens for guests during daytime hours (11:00 AM – 2:00 PM). Short-term volunteers are welcome to apply for this position.
General Cleaning Staff
Assist with light-duty cleaning in the kitchen and dining areas between meals, mop floors, wash windows, and clean the day room and office bathrooms. This is a fantastic opportunity for youth volunteers to engage in meaningful service while accompanied by an adult or guardian.
General Labor
Assist with various tasks as needed, such as light painting jobs, sorting clothing donations, or checking food items for quality.
Group Volunteering
Christian Shelter values group involvement from organizations like churches, schools, and community groups. We aim to accommodate requests by identifying projects that meet both the shelter’s needs and the group’s interests and capabilities. If you’re interested in volunteering with your peers, please contact our Volunteer Manager with the following details
Family Volunteering
Families are encouraged to volunteer together. This can be a good opportunity, especially for children, to be exposed to ways they can help their community. Please note that youth volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Some activities families can do together at the shelter include:
- Organize events like bake sales, car washes, or garage sales and donate the proceeds to the shelter.
- Provide fast food or grocery store gift certificates, or donate non-perishable items like granola bars and crackers.
- Collect blankets, socks, gloves, hats, scarves, and other warm clothing for those in need during the colder months.
- Donate essentials such as soap, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and diapers to the shelter.
- Prepare and drop off sack lunches for guests at the shelter.
- Encourage children to donate their allowance for a week to support homeless guests.
- Organize a visit for friends to tour the shelter and learn about volunteering opportunities.
- Grow vegetables in your garden and donate them to the shelter.
- Contribute school supplies for children residing at the shelter.
- Volunteer your time at the shelter to assist with homework help, games, and other activities for children.
Share Your Resources to Those in Need
Sharing your talent, time, and resources with Christian Shelter not only supports our mission but also enriches your life through meaningful connections with others. For information about volunteering opportunities, please reach out to our Volunteer Manager at 410-749-5673.
If you wish to send monetary support or in-kind donations, you may check out our website for the details.
