Why Volunteer with Homestretch?
1. Impact. You’re helping homeless parents with children rebuild their lives. The progress of Homestretch graduate’s echoes throughout the community.
2. Flexibility. There are different ways to help. We have opportunities for individuals and for groups. You can help us for a couple hours, or on an ongoing basis. There are morning, afternoon, and evening opportunities throughout the week. There are remote and in person opportunities.
3. Specificity. We are strategic and selective about which volunteers we assign to specific projects. We want to know what you are looking for and how it might align with our organizational goals.
Please note that due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, certain opportunities may be modified or paused. In light of the pandemic, please also consider giving a financial gift to the program in addition to volunteering with us.
How Do I Get Started?
1. Read. Take a look at all of the volunteer opportunities below.
2. Connect. Email Brianna at blarson-jackson@homestretchva.org for additional information.
3. Prepare. Opportunities that involve direct work with a client on an ongoing basis require the submission of a volunteer application, background check, in person interview and orientation. Click on the link here to fill out the application and background check:
What Volunteer Opportunities Do You Offer?
Life Skills Presenter:
Time: 1 hour, 2nd Wednesday of the month
Description: Share your expertise with homeless adults, teens, or children. Topics include financial literacy, health and wellness practices, public speaking, landlord-tenant relations, parenting, health and safety, home buying, nutrition, or propose your own topic. Volunteers must be age 18 or older. If you have a skill and professional experience presenting ,send your resume and sample presentation to us!
Location: Virtual
Group/Solo: Great for individual or group
Organize a Drive:
Time: Flexible scheduling
Description: Help homeless parents with children by collecting various items that our families need such as: back-to-school clothing, school supplies, cleaning supplies, linens, kitchen items, baby items, shoes, gas cards, gift cards to grocery stores, etc. All items must be new. Used items will not be accepted. Drives are seasonal. Drives should be coordinated and confirmed with the Development/Volunteer Manager prior to starting. Email the Development/Volunteer Manager to find out what is currently needed and to schedule a drop off time.
Location: Volunteer from your home or office.
Group/Solo: Great for individual or group
Snack Bags:
Time: Flexible. This is a year-round need, drop off must be during business hours
Description: Every week clients come to Homestretch for classes, meetings, and tutoring. Source healthy non-perishable foods to create individual snack bags. Donations are accepted in multiples of 25. Each bag must contain bottled water, and at least two healthy snacks. No pork, peanut, or gelatin products are permitted. Arrange a drop-off time to Homestretch with the Development/Volunteer Manager via email.
Location: Volunteer from your home or your office! Group/Solo: Great for individual or group
Homestretch Improvement Project:
Time: Monday-Saturday
Description: Help us to beautify the Homestretch building or apartment units inside and out. Gather a group and help us landscape, paint our classrooms or offices, clean apartments, or complete other facility improvements that will help create a more welcoming and aesthetically pleasing place for our families and staff to learn and work in. How we care for the space speaks volumes about how we care for our clients.
Location: Homestretch headquarters or rental unit in Fairfax County
Group/Solo: Group project
Adult Tutor:
Time: 1 hour per week; flexible scheduling
Description: Help a Homestretch client move forward in supporting them to reach their career or academic goals. Work with a client to help them achieve their GED, citizenship, CDL, or pass other career or academic tests. Volunteers must be age 18 or older.
Location: Virtual
Group/Solo: For individual volunteers
Kids Tutor:
Time: 1 hour per week, flexible scheduling
Description: Tutor a child in a variety of subjects such as basic math, reading, English, science, and more. This is a great opportunity for those who love working with children and want to help create a brighter future for their student. Volunteers must be age 18 or older.
Location: Virtual
Group/Solo: For individual volunteers
Select Projects:
Time: flexible scheduling
Description: Do you have special trade skills that you can bring to the table? Throughout the year, we have several volunteers provides pecialized support in their areas of expertise that meet specific and spontaneous needs of the organization. These include tech, editing, building, and other projects.
Location: Virtual or in person
Group/Solo: For groups and individual volunteers
Seasonal Programs & Events:
Holiday Shopping Spree & Gift-Wrapping Party:
Time: Seasonal (one Saturday in December)
Description: Help Homestretch children shop for Christmas gifts to give to their family members. The shopping spree is followed by a holiday party with games, gift-wrapping, food, and a surprise visit from Santa. Volunteers must be age 18 or older.
Location: Varies
Group/Solo: Great for individual or group
Back-to-School Drive & Summer Picnic:
Time: Seasonal (summertime, preceding start of the schoolyear)
Description: Help Homestretch children get ready for the school year! Adopt a child and provide a backpack with school supplies for each child. Homestretch will send you a school supply list for the child you are matched with to inspire your shopping.
Location: Homestretch headquarters
Group/Solo: Good for individual or group volunteers
Sponsor an Annual Event:
Time: Dependent on event selected
Description: Homestretch hosts many events throughout the year to benefit our program. We welcome you to attend and sponsor any of our events, such as the:
o Annual May Benefit Breakfast
o Holiday Shopping Spree for families
o Client Awards Night
o Summer Picnic
o Annual Fall Event
o Volunteer Appreciation Night
o Operation Backpack
o And More!
Location: Northern Virginia; varies depending on event
Group/Solo: Good for individuals, groups, foundations, and corporations
*Please contact Homestretch for more information on these events and sponsorship opportunities.
