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Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’

– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Volunteers at Homeward Bound
Volunteers standing in pickup/dropoff truck for the Homeward Bound WNC Welcome Center

Volunteer Opportunities

Whether you are an individual, faith community, business, school, or youth group, Homeward Bound offers numerous opportunities for volunteers to provide much-needed services to people transitioning into a home.
Volunteer helping at the Donation Center in Asheville, NC

Make a Difference

Ending chronic homelessness in our region is a community effort. Without volunteers like you, we could not provide services for as many as 1,600 people annually at AHOPE or collect, sort and distribute furniture and household items at our Welcome Home Donation Center for those transitioning out of homelessness.

Be The Key

Fill out a volunteer application today, the first step in our volunteer process.

APPLY TO VOLUNTEER TODAY

Where Do You Fit In?

EXPLORE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteer at AHOPE Day Center

AHOPE is the only day center for people experiencing homelessness in the region. AHOPE provides services including showers, coffee, mail, and storage of personal belongings for around 200 people per day. Above all, AHOPE is also the first step on the journey back to permanent housing. Volunteers are critical to the successful operation of AHOPE.

Typical tasks include:

  • Sort and handout mail
  • Serve prepared food
  • Make and serve coffee
  • Respond to requests for items such as towels and toiletries
  • Help staff with laundry
  • Assist clients with access to their assigned locker
  • Label and charge phones/electronics
  • Assist clients with locking up bikes
  • Tidying up during services and cleaning after services
  • Assisting with various administrative tasks
  • Assisting with various maintenance tasks

We also invite individuals to share talents and interests that can assist our clients with employment, whole-health resiliency and community integration/involvement.

Volunteer at the Welcome Home Donation Center

The Welcome Home Donation Center collects furniture and household goods donated from community members and distributes them to individuals and families moving from homelessness to housing. Creating a furnished home is key to Homeward Bound’s 92% retention rate.

Typical tasks include:

  • Organize, sort, and pack household items at the donation center
  • Sponsor a Move-In Box including toiletries, cleaning supplies, and other household goods for $250
  • Sponsor a Housewarming by collecting items from our clients’ wish list to directly enhance someone’s life.
College Internships with Homeward Bound

Internships provide access to internal employment, networking opportunities, building community partnerships, and professional reference letters. A Homeward Bound Intern will support Homeward Bound’s work to end homelessness by supporting different programs with their specific needs.

For internships at Homeward Bound, please contact our Human Resource Director, Amy Nowak, at AmyN@HomewardBoundWNC.org

Organize a donation drive

Organize a donation drive to collect items in need at your business, faith community, school or community center. Email welcomehome@homewardboundwnc.org or click here to get started with a donation drive.

Volunteers working at the AHOPE day center in Asheville, NC

“I don’t know if I ever expressed this, but I was always impressed with the level of work you do at Homeward Bound and [the Day Center]. There is so much respect and human dignity in it. Also, you waste absolutely nothing. You can take a small amount of resources and make it perform so many different services. Thanks for letting me volunteer with you!”

Michael
Volunteer at AHOPE