Volunteer Application

Questions? Contact Louisa Gale, the Dorothy Day House Volunteer Coordinator.

Job Descriptions

  • House maintenance – Specific tasks may vary with our needs, but generally includes such tasks as plumbing, electrical work, painting walls, HVAC, and other general maintenance.

  • Bringing Meals – Volunteers drop off prepared meals for families to enjoy on occasion.

  • Cleaning –Includes wiping down blinds, ceiling fan, baseboards, furniture, sink, toilet, windows, removing wall marks, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, disposing of broken toys / movies / other items, replacing lightbulbs, and other general cleaning tasks.

  • Interior Painting – Occasionally the bedrooms need a fresh coat of paint.

  • Event Volunteer – Specific job descriptions will vary with the needs of each fundraising event.

  • Babysitting – Involves supervising a child or children for a predetermined period of time. Must be 16 or older and complete our Child Safe Policy.

  • Sorting Donations – Can take place in one of the Dorothy Day Houses but sometimes will occur in our off site storage units. May involve heavy lifting, but oftentimes does not.

  • Tutoring/Mentoring – Students may vary from school-age children to adults being tutored for their GED. Let us know in the box below the specific ages and subjects you are able to tutor. Must complete our Child Safe Policy and Training.

  • Moving furniture – Usually involves helping a family furnish their new residence upon moving out of one of our Houses. Will often involve heavy lifting. Volunteers with trucks or large SUV’s especially needed! Children under 16 must have an adult accompanying them.

  • Yard Work – Includes pruning, raking, cleaning flower beds and boxes, mulching, hosing down outside windows, cutting grass, and disposing of all yard trash.

  • Car Maintenance - Could involve servicing cars or teaching parents how to maintain cars.

  • Transportation – Involves helping our families get around, whether driving children to / from school, or transporting parents to job interviews. Must be 21 or older with valid driver’s license and insurance and complete our Child Safe Policy and Training.

  • Donation Pickup and Delivery - Involves the pick-up and delivery of large donations (couches, mattresses, dressers, etc.) to our storage unit or homes. Volunteers with large vehicles preferred. Will likely include lifting heavy items.

  • Skills-based Volunteer Opportunities - From time to time, the DDH needs volunteers with special skills and professional expertise to assist with furniture upholstery, photography/videography, resume prep, computer help, law questions, graphic design, barber/hairstylist, financial planning, interview prep, etc.  

Volunteer Form

Share your volunteer experience with the Dorothy Day House on social media by tagging us and using #peoplehelpingpeople.