When you volunteer with Housing Families First, your time and kindness become a source of hope and support for families facing homelessness. There are many meaningful ways to engage with our mission, but volunteering is one of the most direct and powerful.
Whether you’re helping get a room ready for a new family, pitching in at an event, sorting donations, providing dinner or assembling snack bags your time and energy go a long way! Join our amazing community of volunteers and help us create a place where families can build brighter futures.
We Love Our Volunteers!
Become a Dinner Helper!
Join us in making mealtimes smoother for families at Housing Families First! As a Hilliard House Dinner Helper, you will assist with serving dinner, cleaning up after meals, and ensuring the dining area remains a welcoming space for our families. Depending on the evening’s needs, you may also help with organizing the pantry and dining room to keep everything stocked and tidy.
Become a
Front Desk Volunteer!
Got a friendly smile and a heart for helping?
We’re looking for awesome folks to volunteer at our front desk! As the first face people see when they walk through our doors, you’ll help create a warm, welcoming vibe for families, visitors, and staff. If you’re all about making people feel at home and want to support families working toward stability, we’d love to have you be part of our community!
Email: [email protected] to sign up for a shift today!
Cleaning Helpers Needed!
We’re looking for cleaning superheroes to join our #CleaningForGoodSquad at Housing Families First! Whether you’re wiping down surfaces or freshening up rooms, your time helps create a clean, safe, and welcoming space for families as they get back on their feet.
What we’re looking for:
✅ Individuals or small groups of 2–4 people
✅ Available once a week or every other week for about 2 hours
✅ Able to volunteer Monday–Friday between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.
✅ Willing to help clean our on/off-site emergency shelter units, dining hall or admin spaces.
Want something more flexible?
You can also sign up as an “As Needed” Cleaning Volunteer—we’ll reach out when help is needed within 24–72 hours for quick projects like prepping a room or tidying a space.
Single volunteers must be at least 18 years old. Groups under 18 years old must have at least one adult chaperone per every 10 individuals.
Email: [email protected] to sign up for a shift today!
Help Us Serve Up
Some Love at Dinner!
Our Evening Supper Program is a simple (and tasty) way to show some love to families staying at Housing Families First. Meals should be cooked offsite or catered and prepared to serve about 30 people. You’re welcome to stick around and enjoy dinner with the families—or just drop it off and be on your way!
We’re currently focusing on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings, but we’re happy to work with you on other nights—especially if your group has volunteered before.
Whether you’re cooking at home, ordering from a local restaurant, or teaming up with friends or coworkers, your meal brings comfort, connection, and full bellies!
Grab-and-Go Snack/Breakfast Bags: An At-Home or At-Office Volunteer Opportunity
We invite you to participate in this meaningful at-home or at-office volunteer project by putting together Snack or Breakfast Bags!
These bags will be in our dining room and in various places throughout our Hilliard House emergency shelter for families to grab when needed.
Breakfast bags help mornings run more smoothly and snack bags make after school and in between meals brighter at Hilliard House. These bags also help lower our food costs. These little bags are impactful and make a positive difference to all of us here at HFF!
We have several other at-home or at-office DIY volunteer opportunities, as well!
Have questions or ideas about getting involved?
We’d love to hear from you!
Reach out to our Community Engagement & Communications Manager, Jasmine Snead, at [email protected] or call 804-236-5800 ext. 130 to chat about volunteer opportunities or other ways to support Housing Families First.