Dedicate Your Time and Talents to a Good Cause
At the New London Homeless Hospitality Center, we offer a variety of volunteer opportunities, most of which involve the heart of our organization: the Shelter.
We have described several of the most common roles below. A regular weekly commitment of a few hours is ideal; daytime shift hours are typically 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. or 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
If you do not see anything that fits your skills or interests, please share any ideas you have in our Volunteer Interest Form. We may be able to design a volunteer position that makes the most of your unique abilities.
Welcome Desk
The most popular volunteer position at NLHHC is the Daytime Hospitality Center Welcome Desk.
Volunteers assist our staff in operating the Shelter by answering phone calls, welcoming people, monitoring the shower and laundry schedules, distributing supplies, answering questions, and solving problems for guests.
Our Welcome Desk volunteers are a tremendous help with running our busy Shelter!
Help Center
In the Help Center, volunteers assist guests with resolving issues and completing tasks, so they can move forward on their path to rebuild their lives.
For example, you may help a guest create their resume, complete job applications, search for housing options, secure financial aid for schooling, or obtain a driver's license.
We also manage guest mail in the Help Center!
Food Servers
NLHHC does not have a kitchen for preparing meals on-site. Instead, our Shelter Drivers transport guests to the New London Community Meal Center twice a day, Monday through Saturday.
So, it is always greatly appreciated when folks bring in a prepared meal or snacks to serve guests for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. (Especially so on Sundays when the Meal Center is closed)
You can bring in sandwiches, muffins, a vegetable plate, etc. Set up, hand out the food, and then sit down and stay a while to socialize with guests, staff, and other volunteers.
To schedule a time to bring in a meal for guests, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Annah Perch, at annah@nlhhc.org or (860) 501-9900 EXT 103.
Maintenance Days
We welcome the help of individuals and groups for large projects like mopping floors, washing windows, organizing closets and cabinets, helping with landscaping, and doing general maintenance work around the Shelter.
Host a Workshop
If you have a special skill or talent that you would like to share with our guests, you may consider hosting a workshop.
Past workshops have included poetry and creative writing, painting, and print-making, but we welcome your ideas for other activities!
Workshops are a great way to share what you are passionate about with others, while helping guests relax and clear their minds.
Provide a Service
A wonderful way to show hospitality to your neighbors is by performing acts of personal care or service. Examples include giving haircuts, manicures, or mini spa days.
These services can have a significant impact on a person's physical and mental health. Someone getting their nails painted pink may make them smile for the first time in weeks, forget life's stresses for a moment, grant them a sense of dignity, and motivate them to keep going.
Evening Shelter Support
Evening Shelter Support volunteers greet guests as they arrive for the night, help complete the check-in process, assign beds, answer questions, and manage supplies.
This is an opportunity to build friendships and become more involved in our efforts to end homelessness.
The Evening Shelter Support role requires a regular commitment. Volunteer shifts are from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. on the same day every week.
