Volunteering. Mentoring. 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.
Donating your time provides creative and meaningful moments to children, adults, and families at Community of Hope.
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 Triumph, our Ward 8 short-term family housing 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 Triumph, our short-term housing site in Washington, DC’s Ward 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.
The following opportunities are great for one-time and reoccurring volunteers or for groups of up to six people.
The Triumph
parties
Girard
Empower a young person to succeed by becoming a Community of Hope mentor! Be a wise and trusted friend to a young person who has experienced homelessness. Community of Hope’s mentoring program matches youth ages 8-16 in our Permanent Supportive Housing program with compassionate, committed, and responsible adult mentors.
Mentors make a minimum of a one-year commitment to have at least two get-togethers each month with their mentees. Mentoring pairs explore all the exciting things Washington, DC has to offer: museums, movies, historic sites, hikes, restaurants, and more!
- Minimum Age: 21
- Education level: High School/GED
- Volunteer commitment: Pairs should meet at least 2x/month for a minimum of one year
- Onboarding process includes:
- Volunteer Orientation
- Mentor manual/program overview and interview
- TB Test
- Reference Checks
- Background Checks (FBI, MPD, CPR)
- Additional Trainings
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.
All interested volunteers must create a Community of Hope volunteer profile on Volunteer Hub
Volunteer Orientations are required if you are interested in volunteering as a Mentor and some other positions. Fam-Club at the Triumph volunteers are not required but are encouraged, to attend a remote Volunteer Orientation before volunteering.
References, background checks, and TB tests as appropriate to the position will be required. Background checks can be done through Community of Hope for $10.
Volunteers can get their TB test done at the health provider of their choice; however, Community of Hope does offer a no-cost option at one of our health centers for volunteers using one of our referral forms.
We know our volunteers have many interests and talents. We offer various volunteer opportunities catering to those interests including one-time volunteer activities, ongoing projects, and special community events. Please view our current opportunities here. Only one application is necessary if you are interested in multiple roles.
We have locations across the city where volunteers may serve. Please refer to each volunteer position’s description for the specific location. Visit this page for directions.
There are many ways your group can get involved with Community of Hope! We welcome small groups of volunteers (i.e. usually up to six people) to host a birthday party at one of our housing sites or be a part of Fam-Club at The Triumph. Please contact volunteer@cohdc.org for more information.
Get your workplace or community group involved and work with colleagues to collect Welcome Kit items for families in our housing programs.
We also have opportunities for organizations, companies, and faith-based groups that are ready to make a longer-term commitment to being a Community of Hope Strategic Partner. Please contact our Development Manager at development@cohdc.org or 202.407.7753 to learn more.
We are committed to the neighborhoods where our programs are located. Part of that commitment means helping our neighborhood teens find meaningful volunteer opportunities with us. If you are a teenager age 14 or older in Wards 1, 5, or 8 who is looking to complete service hours or build a skill, contact our Volunteer Manager, Lauren Cranman, at lcranman@cohdc.org for more information.
On March 1, 2020, we changed operations to our Volunteer Doula Program. We no longer use doulas in a volunteer capacity. Instead, we find new ways to connect patients to doulas in the community. We will look to partner with doula collectives and individuals in the area who can provide pro-bono doula services for Community of Hope parents.
If you are part of a doula collective or would like to be considered for our referral lists, please complete this questionnaire.
We are so grateful to have had a wonderful community of volunteer doulas who supported Community of Hope families for over three years. Thank you!
Volunteers with court-ordered community service hours may volunteer with Community of Hope if they are not serving due to infractions related to a violent or sexual crime or any crime involving a child. The Community of Hope Volunteer Team reserves the right to discern each volunteer’s eligibility to serve on a case-by-case basis. Prospective volunteers must disclose that they are interested in doing court-ordered service prior to beginning their volunteer role.
- Mentors must be 21 or over.
- Mentors must be able to commit for at least one year (once background checks have been completed).
- Mentors must be able to meet with their mentee at least twice a month.
- Mentors will complete a volunteer orientation, application, interview, and mentor orientation.
- Mentors must be complete a thorough background check process.
- Mentors must be in good health.
Having a car is not required, but mentors need to be able to transport their mentee to/from activities either via their own transportation, public transit, or car service.
Mentors must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Mentors are expected to meet with their mentees at least twice per month. You should be able to commit for a minimum of one year or more, be flexible, and have the desire to serve as a positive role model and friend!
Mentees are children or teens between the ages of 8-16 whose families have experienced homelessness. They live with their families in apartments or homes (i.e. permanent supportive housing) across the city and receive case management services from Community of Hope case managers. Most of our families live in Wards 7 and 8.
Please complete a volunteer profile and attend a Volunteer Orientation. You will the en complete an interview, mentor orientation, and several background checks (FBI, MPD, etc.). Our Volunteer Manager works with our housing stability case managers to match the interests and needs of a mentee with that of a mentor.
Anywhere you want! Mentoring happens through positive socialization experiences as well as academic support and guidance.
Washington, DC, is a city with limitless options for free and affordable excursions. Memorable outings don’t have to break the bank. Our mentees and mentors have gone to museums, monuments, national parks, and more. They’ve gone bowling, ice skating, and laser tagging. We encourage you to get creative!
Plus, Community of Hope sponsors group outings each quarter.
Mentors can be reimbursed up to $50 every quarter for transportation, meals, and activity costs.
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.
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.
Learn more about stories of healing, stability, and hope from our Community of Hope voices, clients, and patients.
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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.