Volunteering at The City Mission
ANNOUNCEMENT: All volunteer activities, including Volunteering 101 sessions, are currently suspended in order to protect our clients, staff, and community from the COVID-19 virus. Please read our blog post on this important matter to learn more.
Serve, Learn, & Grow with Us
The first step in becoming a volunteer is attending a one hour training called Volunteering 101. Volunteering 101 is a fun, brief overview of The City Mission and the volunteer opportunities we have available. It's a great chance for you to meet our staff face-to-face, learn about the volunteer experience that is the best fit for you, and see how your commitment can impact the lives of men, women and children in crisis. Please click on "Sign Up for Volunteering 101" to reserve your spot for one of the Volunteering 101 dates below.
Click Here for 2021 Volunteering 101 Dates Volunteering 101 Sessions 2021 *Groups do not need to attend Volunteering 101. Instead please complete the Service Project Request Form below.
Volunteer 101 sessions for 2020 are canceled due to restrictions in place to keep our clients, staff, and community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please stay tuned to our social media channels to learn when we will reopen volunteer opportunities.
Virtual Bridges Out of Poverty Training
Bridges Out of Poverty is a set of concepts that helps businesses, churches, schools, social service organizations and individuals address poverty in a comprehensive way. It provides ideas and concrete tools a community needs to reduce, alleviate and work with those in poverty.
Whether you're already a volunteer at The City Mission, considering how to best serve, or simply interested in this topic, we invite you to sign up for one of our free virtual training sessions in September and November.
How Volunteers Made a Difference in 2019
Urgent Need Positions:
The City Mission Associate Board - For the first time ever we are beginning an Associate Board in the fall of 2019. If you're an emerging leader in Cleveland or know someone who would be a good fit to champion our mission, visit our Associate Board page to learn more.
What Does it Mean to Volunteer with Us?
Positions by Program
Crossroads
Position & Times Available
D a y R o o m M e n t o r
Weekday, daytime hours
Assist staff member with preprogram class/encourage men.
C l i e n t S a f e t y S u p p o r t
Weekdays/weekends
3pm - 6pm or 6pm - 9pm
Assist security staff with answering phone calls and greeting guests.
R e s o u r c e C e n t e r
Weekday, daytime (hours vary).
Assist men with basic computer functions, writing resumes, learning to read, etc.
W a r e h o u s e A s s i s t a n t
Mon - Fri between 9am & 4pm
Receive and sort donations.
S u p p o r t G r o u p L e a d e r
Mon and Fri 7pm - 8pm
Facilitate group discussion and encourage men in Christ.
K i t c h e n A s s i s t a n t
Weekday, daytime hours available
Assist kitchen staff in preparing & serving a meal, and cleaning up.
A r t C a r t
Mon - Fri 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Engaging men in various arts and crafts to help alleviate stress and anxiety.
Laura's Home
Position & Times Available
C h i l d c a r e A s s i s t a n t
Mon - Fri, 9am - 11:30am
Assist teacher with daily classroom activities (i.e. craft, snack, playtime, etc.)
C l o t h i n g R o o m
Mon, Wed, Fri evenings
Sort and organize clothing in the boutique and/or assist clients in picking out clothing.
F r o n t D e s k S u p p o r t
Weekday & weekend availability
Assist security staff in answering phones, greeting guests, and receiving donations.
L i b r a r y S e r v i c e s
Tues and Wed between 2-5pm
Assist women & children with checking out books.
S a l o n S e r v i c e s
Weekdays 2pm - 5pm
Licensed cosmetologists provide basic hair care (wash, cut, color, etc.) services for clients.
Pathways
Position & Times Available
T e e n C l u b A s s i s t a n t
Tues and Thurs from 7:30pm - 8:30pm
Mentor and disciple teenagers during the school year.
H o m e w o r k C l u b
Mon - Fri from 3pm - 5pm
Assist with homework and activities during the school year.
C h r i s t i a n M e n t o r i n g
Weekday evenings (times vary based on schedule of mentor/mentee)
Mentor a school-aged child for one hour once a week.
A d o p t - a - D a y
Adult groups of 5 - 15 volunteers provide crafts, snacks, activities and fun for our school-age children on days out of school from 9-11:30am and/or 12:45-2:30pm
Administration
Position & Times Available
F r i e n d s o f T h e M i s s i o n
As needed for phone calls/thank you notes
Volunteer FAQs
I'm interested in a one-time service opportunity.For Group Service Projects, only the group leader needs to apply for the opportunity through our Service Project Request Form. For the best experience, it’s important to inquire 6-9 weeks before the intended date of service through our form. However, we will do our best to accommodate! Here are some examples of one-time service opportunities:
- Done in a Day Projects – painting, cleaning, organizing or landscaping projects at our Main Campus or Laura’s Home. Fill out this form to sign up.
- Crossroads Fun – Men’s groups to come and provide crafts, snacks, activities and fun opportunities for the men at Crossroads on weekends or evenings (ie. Watch a ball game, bring games or cards, tournaments, etc.). Email our team to start the conversation.
- Adopt a Day Out of School in Pathways – Adult Groups (5-15 volunteers) come to provide crafts, snacks, activities and fun for our school-age children on days out of school and during Summer Break from 9-11:30am and/or 12:45 - 2:30pm. Click here for 2019-2020 days off of school. And when you're ready to sign up, fill out our Done-in-a-Day form!
- Meal Providing – supplying, preparing and serving a meal at Laura’s Home or Crossroads. Please read the Crossroads Dining Room Handbook and Laura's Home Dining Room Handbook before applying through our Service Project Request Form.
- Back to School Bash - This year there were major changes to everyone's school schedule! Instead of volunteering at our Back to School Bash, consider sponsoring a child's school supplies.
- Ride with a Mission - Learn about changes to this year's ride and potential volunteer opportunities on our Ride page.
- Fall Fun Fest -With social distancing restrictions in place, this year we can’t do Trunk or Treat, but we can have a CANDY PARADE. Sign up on this page to join us!
Note: You must be at least 18 years old or serve with an approved chaperone to participate in any of the positions listed above. Only the Adult Chaperone needs to complete a volunteer application process.
If you served recently and forgot to log-in at our volunteer computers, you can access your volunteer profile below by clicking here.
Sure! We want to give you the best picture of what it looks like to volunteer at the Mission before you commit. View the volunteer handbook here.
