Volunteers are the heart of our mission as we strive to end the cycle of homelessness. Our work is made possible entirely through the generous support of individuals and organizations from the community who give of their time and talent.
Important Volunteer Updates
- At this time, most on-site volunteer opportunities are suspended until further notice, and available on-site volunteer opportunities are only open to Certified Light House Volunteers. We have additional off-site opportunities listed below as well, which are available to all.
- All individuals must wear a mask while on Light House property.
- As an organization we do not participate or provide verification for court ordered community service hour programs.
SHINE DAYS
Our new Service Helping in Neighborhood Events (SHINE) Days are one day a month events that invite both certified and non-certified Light House volunteers to participate in an action day that benefits The Light House. Stay tuned for a full calendar soon!
2021 HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE:
Put a smile on our residents’ faces by donating a holiday stocking, children’s item, community client item, or gift card this holiday season. Click here for instructions and sign-up.
Off-site Opportunities
(No Certification Required)
Donate UNBagged Lunches
We distribute UNbagged lunches to our residents and community clients who are in need of food. Unbagged lunches are available at any time for anyone who comes to our doors hungry.
- Sign-up: Visit our sign-up pages to select what month/day you would like to bring in UNbagged lunches:
- May – June 2022 Sign-up
- July 2022 – June 2023 Sign-up
- To provide UNbagged lunches, volunteers must complete the sign-up.
- UNbagged Lunch Instruction Sheet: Click here to view!
- Why UNbagged? The Light House is no longer serving the lunch in brown paper bags and asks that volunteers refrain from packing sides, water and sandwiches together. Volunteers should only assemble the sandwiches offsite and wrap them in individual sandwich bags. This is still essential for our operation and we will use these sandwiches and additional items to serve our community clients.
- Kindness Notes: Interested in including artwork or notes with your donation? Click here to view our guidelines for Light House Kindness Notes.
Hold a Donation Drive
Vital to the success of our organization, in-kind donations keep costs down for our programs by providing basic needs items such as food, clothing, toiletries, cleaning supplies, bedding, and more.
Visit the In-Kind Needs section of our website for instructions and to see what donation items we can accept.
*Please Note: All drives must be coordinated with our Volunteer Department to ensure that drives do not overlap or have conflicting delivery dates. Please email volunteers@annapolislighouse.org to get started.
Student Volunteering
- Student Information Packet: Click here to view our student information packet.
- Student Impact Reflection Form: Are you a student who has already completed your service? Click here to fill out the Student Impact Reflection Form.
- PLEASE NOTE: All forms that require a signature must be submitted by email to the Volunteer Office for signature (volunteers@annapolislighthouse.org). Volunteer Office signature will be provided upon completion of volunteer service and completion of the Student Impact Reflection Form. Staff onsite at Light House will not sign service hour verification.
Start An Online Fundraiser
Support The Light House today by creating your own fundraising page to share through social media or email. This is a great way to engage your friends, family and acquaintances to become involved in our mission of rebuilding lives in our community. Fundraising pages can be easily created and shared online and best of all, every donation made online goes directly to The Light House!
Start fundraising now or you can view our Online Fundraising How-To Guide to learn more.
Seasonal/Holiday Support and Activities
Throughout the year we have a variety of seasonal opportunities. We provide updates on these opportunities as they approach.
On-site Opportunities
(Certification Required)
All volunteers seeking on-site opportunities must complete our Light House Volunteer Certification Process.
Dinner Meal Service (OPENING SOON)
Dinner is served at 5:00pm weekdays, year round, thanks to our wonderful volunteers. Groups that participate in the meal program purchase the ingredients, prepare, serve the meal to our residents, and work with our Kitchen Manager. Please plan to serve 50-60 residents.
Please Note:
- Most of the dinner opportunities are covered by faithful and dedicated volunteer groups from community churches, organizations, and businesses, but we regularly have a few spots open each month.
- If you are a group leader who would like to sign-up to serve a meal at The Light House for the first time, we kindly ask that you first attend an additional 30 minute on-site kitchen orientation session before signing up. Please email kitchen@annapolislighthouse.org to sign-up for a session.
*Only volunteers who have completed our Light House Volunteer Certification Process (coming soon) are eligible for this opportunity.
Community Hot Lunch (OPENING SOON)
Community Hot Lunch is served at 12:00pm Wednesdays and Thursday, in collaboration with our wonderful volunteers.
Community Hot Lunch Volunteers that participate in this program serve the meal to our residents and community clients, and work with our Kitchen Manager.
Please Note: If you are a volunteer who would like to sign-up to serve a meal at The Light House for the first time, we kindly ask that you first attend an additional 30 minute on-site kitchen orientation session before signing up. Please email kitchen@annapolislighthouse.org to sign-up for a session.
Interested in donating hot lunch? Please email email kitchen@annapolislighthouse.org.
*Only volunteers who have completed our Light House Volunteer Certification Process (coming soon) are eligible for this opportunity.
Client Choice Pantry Volunteers (OPENING SOON)
Our Client Choice Pantry offers non-perishable and fresh food, donated by local business, volunteers, and organizations, to community clients in need.
Client Choice Pantry volunteers set-up and organize items, help clients pick out and pack food items while the pantry is open, and clean up leftover product once the pantry is closed. There are multiple shifts available during weekdays.
*Only volunteers who have completed our Light House Volunteer Certification Process (coming soon) are eligible for this opportunity.
Carol’s Clothing Closet (CLOSED)
Our community clothing closet is an incredible resource for our residents and community clients to receive articles of clothing that are both work appropriate and suitable for everyday wear.
Clothing Closet volunteers assist clients in picking out outfits, as well as organizing clothing donations.
*Only volunteers who have completed our Light House Volunteer Certification Process (coming soon) are eligible for this opportunity.
Front Desk (OPENING SOON)
The front desk is the first thing people see when they walk into our organization. Front Desk volunteers are needed to answer phones, direct calls, greet residents, clients, and other visitors. Front Desk volunteers will receive one additional training at first shift.
*Only volunteers who have completed our Light House Volunteer Certification Process (coming soon) are eligible for this opportunity.
Computer Literacy and Tech Assistance (OPENING SOON)
Many of our residents and community clients are working to develop the skills they need to use technology.
Computer Literacy and Tech Assistance volunteers can work in a group or one-on-one setting to help clients develop basic computer and phone literacy, setting up email accounts, fundamentals of video calls, and storing documents to cloud or drive-based servers. Computer Literacy and Tech Assistance volunteers are required to attend additional training prior to volunteering.
*Only volunteers who have completed our Light House Volunteer Certification Process (coming soon) are eligible for this opportunity.
Donation Station (OPENING SOON)
Donation Station volunteers help to receive donations and organize the donations in their proper locations around our facility.
*Only volunteers who have completed our Light House Volunteer Certification Process (coming soon) are eligible for this opportunity.
Unique Opportunities
- Do you have a special skill or idea of how would like to volunteer your time? Please contact the volunteer office if you have time in your schedule to give. Email volunteers@annapolislighthouse.org or call 443-569-4211.
- Some areas of interest to The Light House: Handyman services, gardening/landscaping, dental services, legal services, yoga instruction, or host a resident game or activity night.
A few other ways YOU can support The Light House now!
Become a Student Volunteer
- CLICK HERE to view or download our student information packet.
- Are you a student who has already completed your service? CLICK HERE to fill out the Student Impact Reflection Form.
- PLEASE NOTE: All forms that require a signature must be submitted by email to the Volunteer Office for signature (volunteers@annapolislighthouse.org). Volunteer Office signature will be provided upon completion of volunteer service and completion of the Student Impact Reflection Form. Staff onsite at Light House will not sign service hour verification.
Donate UNbagged Lunches
- We distribute UNbagged lunches to our residents and community clients who are in need of food. Unbagged lunches are available at any time for anyone who comes to our doors hungry.
- Visit our sign-up pages to select what month/day you would like to bring in UNbagged lunches:
- To provide UNbagged lunches, volunteers must complete the sign-up.
- CLICK HERE to view our most current UNbagged lunch instruction sheet.
- PLEASE NOTE: The Light House is no longer serving the lunch in brown paper bags and asks that volunteers refrain from packing sides, water and sandwiches together. Volunteers should only assemble the sandwiches offsite and wrap them in individual sandwich bags. This is still essential for our operation and we will use these sandwiches and additional items to serve our community clients.
- Interested in including artwork or notes with your donation? Please click here to view our guidelines for Light House Kindness Notes.
- We distribute UNbagged lunches to our residents and community clients who are in need of food. Unbagged lunches are available at any time for anyone who comes to our doors hungry.
- SIGN-UP HERE and select what month/day you would like to bring in UNbagged lunches.
- To provide UNbagged lunches, volunteers must complete the sign-up.
- CLICK HERE to view our most current UNbagged lunch instruction sheet.
- PLEASE NOTE: The Light House is no longer serving the lunch in brown paper bags and asks that volunteers refrain from packing sides, water and sandwiches together. Volunteers should only assemble the sandwiches offsite and wrap them in individual sandwich bags. This is still essential for our operation and we will use these sandwiches and additional items to serve our community clients.
- Interested in including artwork or notes with your donation? Please click here to view our guidelines for Light House Kindness Notes.
Become a Certified Light House Volunteer
Our new Certified Light House Volunteer process will be coming soon! Please stay tuned for more information about when this process will be opening up. Thanks you for your support!
- Watch our Volunteer Orientation Video
- Complete our Volunteer Application
- Complete A Background Check
- Sign Up For A Shift Through Our Volunteer Information Center (VIC)
Once these steps are complete you will receive a welcome email from VIC inviting you to begin scheduling your shifts.
Donate Online
In the coming months, our neighbors experiencing homelessness and poverty will be those hardest hit by this crisis. We are committed to serving as many struggling individuals and families as we possibly can, and your donations are essential to these efforts.
Start An Online Fundraiser
Support The Light House today by creating your own fundraising page to share through social media or email. This is a great way to engage your friends, family and acquaintances to become involved in our mission of rebuilding lives in our community. Fundraising pages can be easily created and shared online and best of all, every donation made online goes directly to The Light House! Start fundraising now or you can view our Online Fundraising How-To Guide to learn more.
Click here to get started!
Donate Food And Supplies
View the full list of donation items we can accept along with our adjusted guidelines by visiting our Needs page.
Before starting your application, please keep in mind the following:
- You must complete all steps and be approved before signing up for a volunteer shift.
- We are not accepting court referred volunteers at this time.
- If you are volunteering with a group, only the group leader is required to attend an orientation but we encourage others to attend.
- For the safety of our shelter staff, clients, and our volunteers, in-house volunteer positions require a background check.
- You must be 18 years or older to volunteer as an individual. Volunteers ages 11-17 must be accompanied by an adult at all times while in our facility.
- Making bagged lunches or holding a food donation drive do not require attending an orientation or filling out a volunteer application, and also provide community service hours for students. In order to participate in the bagged lunch program, volunteers must read the instruction sheet and sign-up through the sign-up link listed below. Service hours will not be verified without signing up.
Pro Bono Services
- Do you have a special skill and would like to volunteer your time? Please contact the volunteer office if you have time in your schedule to give. Email volunteers@annapolislighthouse.org or call 443-569-4211.
- Some areas of interest to The Light House: Handyman services, gardening/landscaping, technical and computer services, dental services, credentialed Therapist, legal services, exercise trainers, and nutritionists.
Already A Registered Volunteer?
- If you have completed all the steps to volunteer at The Light House you will be able to login to our Volunteer Information Center (VIC), where you can sign up for one many Light House volunteer opportunities, update your profile, and track your hours.
