Get involved

Get Involved!

Volunteering. Organizing a supply drive. Giving one time or as a monthly Sustainer of Hope. Honoring a loved one. Reading and sharing inspiring stories. Checking out the latest event.

Volunteer Hope.

Donating your time provides creative and meaningful moments to children, adults, and families at Community of Hope.

Volunteer

Dedicate your talents and passions to serve your DC neighbors and give back to your local community. We welcome individuals, group volunteers and corporate groups.

We are excited to welcome volunteers to Fam-Club and Birthday Parties at The Aya, our Ward 6 short-term family housing site and The Triumph, our Ward 8 site. Please make room in your calendars to be part of our Fam-Club at The Triumph! Volunteers also make great hosts for Birthday Parties at The Triumph. These opportunities provide meaningful ways for volunteers to make a difference in the lives of young people and their families experiencing homelessness.

Our volunteer program offers a number of individual and group volunteer activities – matching a wide range of interests, skills, and commitment levels.

Support families overcoming homelessness and give back to your local community! Help lead fun activities with the residents at The Aya and The Triumph, our short-term housing site in Washington, DC’s Wards 6 and 8. Please note: Fam-Club volunteers do not need to attend a separate Volunteer Orientation.

Bring birthday cheer to children and families experiencing homelessness! This is a great opportunity for small groups. Contact Rebekah Church at rchurch@cohdc.org to learn more.

Host a game night with a group or share a special skill or talent with the adult residents at The Bridge at Girard in Columbia Heights, DC. Groups are also welcome to host a lunch or seasonal party for the residents.

Find a volunteer opportunity that interests you by viewing our current opportunities here. Simply create your Community of Hope volunteer profile and sign up for opportunities on Volunteer Hub!

For certain positions, individual applications will be reviewed and potential volunteers will be contacted for an interview.

Visit our calendar of events and then view availability for an event by clicking the event title. When you want to register for an event, click the sign-up button, and either login or create an account when prompted. Once you are logged in, you can return to the calendar and sign up for any other events you’d like without having to log in again.

You’ll know you have successfully been signed up for an event when you receive a confirmation email.

You are an important part of the team! In order to ensure that we have enough volunteers for each shift, we count on you to keep your commitment. If you are unable to attend, we ask that you cancel via VolunteerHub, email, or phone as soon as you know of a change in your plans. If you miss two or more shifts without contacting Community of Hope staff, your VolunteerHub account will be locked (you will not be able to log in), until you have a further conversation with Community of Hope staff. We appreciate your understanding.

More Ways to Volunteer

The following opportunities are great for one-time and reoccurring volunteers or for groups of up to six people.

Fam-Club at
The Triumph

Birthday
parties

The Bridge at
Girard

Photographer

Wishlist Donations.

Wishlist Donations

Donate tangible supplies for families moving into their own home or welcoming a new baby.

Community of Hope accepts the following items for our Housing program. Our household wishlist is easy to purchase from on Amazon. We are always looking for donations to our New Baby Closet – view the wishlist here. We invite you to consider hosting a donation drive to engage even more people in our mission, with a birthday, holiday, or any other celebration to assist families in need with smooth transitions.

If you have any questions about our in-kind wish list, please email development@cohdc.org and a member of our team will follow up with you regarding your gift.

Having a new baby is an exciting moment for any family— requiring a lot of equipment and for families with resources stretched thin, getting extra support is key to a healthy start. Learn more about wanted items!

Clothing for babies and toddlers
Maternity clothing
Baby blankets and burp cloths
Strollers and baby equipment

VIEW THE LIST

Full and twin sheets and blankets
Dishes (plates, bowls, cups - sets of 4 or more place settings)
Silverware (sets of 4 or more place settings)
Pots and Pans (sets - not individual)
Bath towels and wash cloths (sets of 2 or more) 
Bathroom basics (shower curtain, curtain rings, and bathmat as a set)
First Aid Kits (in box)
Cleaning supplies (trash cans, mops, sponges, etc.)

New or gently used children’s books to brighten and enrich children’s experiences at our sites
Culturally appropriate with diverse main characters.
Spanish, French, and Amharic books welcome.

VIEW THE LIST

We also receive school supplies for the children in our housing programs and living near our health center each summer (July and August only) and run a Holiday Cheer initiative each December.

Learn more about In-Kind Donations and Collection Drives!

Our wishlist makes purchasing on Amazon easy. Please let us know your gift is coming by contacting development@cohdc.org or 202.407.7747.

Due to limited storage space, donations will not be accepted at our sites without prior notification. Unfortunately, we cannot pick up donations at this time. Thank you!

We also receive school supplies for the children in our housing programs and living near our health center each summer (July and August only) and run a Holiday Cheer initiative each December.

More Ways to Give Hope.

MONETARY DONATIONS

Planned giving

WORKPLACE GIVING

HONOR A LOVED ONE

STOCKS OR WIRE

Holiday cheer campaign

view all ways to give!

Stories of Hope.

Learn more about stories of healing, stability, and hope from our Community of Hope voices, clients, and patients.

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Community of Hope volunteers are integral to making our mission a reality. This National Volunteer Month, we’re celebrating the everyday kindness, creativity, and commitment they show. 

National Volunteer Month – Volunteers Make Hope Happen 

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When I found out I was pregnant, it was one of the happiest times of my life,” says Portia Quarles, a wife, mom, and champion of maternal health in DC. She wasn’t yet a patient at Community of Hope and reflected on her first prenatal appointment “I was spoken to in a way that felt belittling. It was disheartening. I cried. I felt defeated.”

Portia: A Patient, Mother, and Voice for Compassionate Care

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For Karema, life changed in an instant. She and her one-year-old daughter, Aleema, had been living with Aleema’s father when tensions in their relationship escalated. Realizing their living situation was no longer healthy or stable, Karema made the difficult decision to leave. With nowhere else to go, she and Aleema entered an emergency shelter, where they stayed for a couple of weeks.

A Fresh Start: Karema’s Journey to Stability

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For Shannelle, being a single mother of three came with its share of challenges. She worked hard to provide for her children, but when she left an abusive relationship, everything changed. The financial burden fell entirely on her shoulders.

Shannelle’s Fresh Start!

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When Heather found out she was pregnant, she felt lost. She had been struggling with homelessness and addiction since the pandemic, caught in a cycle of instability and toxic relationships.

Finding Hope: Heather’s Journey to Stability

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When Taylor and her husband moved to Ward 8 three years ago, she knew she wanted to connect with her community in a meaningful way. Taylor found a perfect match in the wide variety of Community of Hope programs that allow her to build relationships and make a lasting impact.

Volunteer Spotlight: Taylor’s Dedication to Community

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Shiquitaa Anderson is a hardworking mother of six, balancing her job as a food clerk at Safeway while raising children between the ages of 3 and 14. A Washington, D.C. native, Shiquitaa loves drawing, especially cartoon characters, and spending time with her kids. But what she cherishes most is providing them with a stable, happy home—something that once felt out of reach.

From Homelessness to Hope: How Shiquitaa Anderson is Building a Brighter Future

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For almost 45 years, Community of Hope has been working to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring—especially for families with children but also for a growing number of individuals. Unfortunately, the need for these services only seems to grow. DC experienced a growth of 14% among people experiencing homelessness and with limited rental assistance and high rental prices this challenge is getting harder. So, we are stepping up to serve MORE people!

Community of Hope Grows to Serve More People Experiencing Homelessness

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For Anita Burrows, a longtime resident of Washington, D.C.’s Ward 8, managing her chronic conditions was a constant struggle. After experiencing preeclampsia during her last pregnancy, Anita’s doctor at Community of Hope connected her with Ashley Keen, a dedicated Community Health Worker here at Community of Hope, to help her take control of her health. Now, two years later, Anita credits Ashley’s guidance and support with helping her stay on top of her medications and manage her blood pressure.

Empowering Health: How a Community Health Worker Transformed Anita’s Journey with Chronic Illness

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“When things got rough—juggling family struggles, financial problems, and even trauma from my brother getting shot at our home—Community of Hope stepped in,” says Tytiana Johnson, a mom and longtime Community of Hope patient. “The homelessness prevention program gave us a place to land when we had nowhere else to go —it gave us a way to move forward, even when things felt impossible.”

Thriving With Support: Tytiana’s Journey

How you can give hope.

For more than 50 years, Community of Hope has provided medical and humanitarian aid to families in Washington, D.C.

You can read about the many ways to give below, or visit our donation form to make a one-time or monthly contribution online. You can read about the many ways to give below, or visit our donation form to make a one-time or monthly contribution online. You can read about the many ways to give below, or visit our donation form to make a one-time or monthly contribution online.

We need your support to continue this lifesaving work

Hear from our Medical staff

Raise Hope With Hope

Find Your
Healthcare
Location

Having a new baby is an exciting moment for any family— requiring a lot of equipment and for families with resources stretched thin, getting extra support is key to a healthy start. Learn more about wanted items!

Clothing for babies and toddlers

Maternity clothing

Baby blankets and burp cloths

Strollers and baby equipment

VIEW THE LIST

New or gently used children’s books to brighten and enrich children’s experiences at our sites

Culturally appropriate with diverse main characters.

Spanish, French, and Amharic books welcome.

VIEW THE LIST

We also receive school supplies for the children in our housing programs and living near our health center each summer (July and August only) and run a Holiday Cheer initiative each December.

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General Inquiries

Contacts

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