Volunteer Opportunities
Donate your time to help us in our mission of ending homelessness
Welcome House is always looking for individuals and groups who are willing to donate their time to help us in our mission of ending homelessness.
In 2022, Welcome House was supported by 1,036 volunteers. Of those individuals, 156 volunteered in direct client-based services and 880 in indirect-administrative services. A total of 3,720 hours of volunteer work came to Welcome House in 2022 and all efforts brought us closer in our ultimate mission.
How To Get Started
Listed below are short-term, reoccurring, and group opportunities that are open within our agency for volunteers. This is not an exclusive list and as always, we are willing to work with you if there is another volunteer opportunity you would be interested in fulfilling. Please check out the opportunities below to see what you’re interested in, then complete the volunteer application.
Volunteer Application
All volunteers must begin the process by completing the Volunteer Application Form at this link. Once your application is received, someone will reach out to you to take the next steps.
For more information on volunteer program contact Natalie Endres at nendres@welcomehouseky.org or 859-292-9352.
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DONATION DRIVES & FUNDRAISERS
Donation drivers help organize a drive or event to bring in donations for Welcome House. The funds or items collected could either be given directly to Welcome house, or any funds raised could be used to purchase in-kind donations from our wish lists or supplies for a volunteer project that requires a budget. This is a great activity that can be done on your own time. Groups can also organize restaurant nights to benefit Welcome House – the group would be responsible for finding a restaurant, choosing the date, and promoting the fundraiser. We’re happy to help promote on our social media platforms as well!
DONATE A MEAL
Individuals and/or groups can supply meals for Welcome House clients staying in Welcome House housing facilities. You can cook a meal for the 35 women and children staying our Shelter, our VA shelter which houses up to 10 male veterans or our new medical respite center.
SORTING DONATIONS
Donation sorters help carry donations up and down stairs, sorting the donations into their appropriate places, cleaning up and organizing the items in the shelves, consolidating shelves to make room for incoming donations, general tidying up. This activity would take place during business hours Mon.-Fri. 9am-4:30pm.
SHELTER ACTIVITIES
Host an activity night at our shelter for women and children! This could be a fun activity or craft for the kids, a life-skills class for the women, a fun parent/child activity, a spa-night for painting nails and giving facials, the possibilities are endless! Volunteers are responsible for providing materials for any projects or classes they’d like to host. These activities work best Mon-Fri 7:00pm-8:30pm.
CHILD CARE PROVIDER
Our clients are constantly working to find employment, attend trainings and meetings, and secure an education. By volunteering as a Child Care Provider, you are helping our clients reach these goals by watching their children as they balance many priorities often times with no support model. Shelter is looking for Child Care Providers Sunday through Thursday 7:30-9:00 PM, and especially Sunday and Wednesday during Shelter house meetings.
LANDSCAPING/BUILDING MAINTENANCE
We have several areas that could use a little bit of a cleanup – King’s Crossing location, our Women & Children’s Shelter, Gardens at Greenup apartments, and our VA shelter. Landscaping projects include picking up trash, mulching, sanitizing the playsets at the Gardens at Greenup apartments, and general tidying up. If your group has a bit of a budget or would like to get more involved in this project, you could even host a cookout after the pickup! Ideally this activity would take place during business hours Mon.-Fri. 9am-4:30pm, weather permitting.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE
There is always paper work, computer work, and general behind-the-scenes support that needs to be completed. If you find that organization is your strong suit and you want to get involved with Welcome House, call today to become an Admin Extraordinaire.
EVENT VOLUNTEERING
Welcome House event volunteers typically help monitor silent auction tables, coat-check, at-the-door ticket sales, or other event needs for Mardi Gras for Homeless Children (on Fat Tuesday each year), Household Shower (mid-April) or Summer Sunday (the first Sunday in August). This is a great way to help out while having a good time at some of our favorite events!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a volunteer?
Please begin by completing the Volunteer Application. The next step is to contact Natalie Endres at nendres@welcomehouseky.org at 859-292-9352 to schedule your service.
What’s the difference between direct versus indirect service volunteer opportunities?
Direct service opportunities involve working directly with clients, whereas indirect service deals with all the work we do behind the scenes to support our many client programs.
Do I need to submit a background check to volunteer?
Yes. After the application process you will be asked to complete a background check.
Do I have to pay for my background check?
You are not required to pay for your background check. However, if you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to offset the cost, $20 is the approximate cost per person.
What’s the minimum age to volunteer at Welcome House?
We have a wide variety of opportunities available for families or groups with children. All volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
May we schedule as a group? How many people can you accommodate at once?
Absolutely, we love groups! Depending on the specific volunteer project we have space to accommodate 15-20 volunteers at a time. For more information, please contact Natalie Endres at nendres@welcomehouseky.org 859-292-9352.
What is the time commitment for volunteering?
We understand that your availability may be limited at this time, so many of our opportunities have a flexible schedule. Depending on the area you would like to volunteer in, the schedule will vary. You can serve a meal on one occasion or sign-up to volunteer for an event. If you are able to commit more time, we have other positions that require a weekly, monthly, or longer commitment.
Do you provide volunteering opportunities for court-mandated community service?
Yes, Welcome House does have limited-opportunities for court-mandated community service volunteers. Please contact Natalie Endres at nendres@welcomehouseky.org at 859-431-8717.
Do all of your volunteer opportunities involve directly working with the homeless population?
Many of our volunteering opportunities do involve direct contact with our homeless population. However, we have other ongoing positions, including event volunteers and pantry organization, which do not.
What do I need to bring with me when I volunteer at Welcome House?
Volunteers do not need to bring any unless they require their own community service documentation for school or court. All registration and scheduling should be completed online before your first visit.
Where are the volunteer opportunities located?
Our offices are located in Covington, KY. With the exception of our annual events around NKY, the bulk of all volunteer opportunities will take place on one of our Covington properties.
I still have questions that have not been answered here. Can someone help me?
Absolutely! Please contact Natalie Endres at nendres@welcomehouseky.org 859-292-9352.