Ways to Volunteer

Individual Church Corporate Women's Auxiliary

Individual Opportunities

There are many opportunities for individuals or families to help minister to our guests. Take a look at some of the suggestions below.

For more information, please contact Randy Daniels at (901) 526-8434, ext. 1008.

Serve a Meal

Your group can come serve lunch or dinner any day of the week. This is a simple way to help care for our guests, and it is not time-intensive. Call now to schedule a time for your group to help out!

You can also sponsor a meal by covering the cost of the meal (approximately $400). You can even cook hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill and then serve them to our guests.

Special Note About Serving Meals on Weekends : Saturdays and Sundays are very popular days for volunteers wanting to serve meals. So if you're interested in serving on the weekend, please call at least 30 days in advance. Also, please have at least two dates in mind when you contact us. Thank you!

Friday Family Nights

We love it when families come down together to help serve our guests. That's why the Mission hosts Friday Family Nights the first Friday night of each month. Those nights are reserved for families who want to bring their children to come down and help serve dinner.

If your family wants to participate in Friday Family Night, you don't need to call in advance (unlike most volunteer groups). Just arrive at 383 Poplar Ave. by 4:45 p.m. and ask for Randy Daniels.

Work Days

We have opportunities at the Men’s Emergency Shelter, Moriah House, Calvary Colony, Wright Transitional Housing and Intact Housing for work such as cleaning, painting and small repairs.

Donation Drive

The following items are ongoing needs at Memphis Union Mission. Volunteers can do a donation drive for any one item, or a combination:

  • Non-perishable food (canned goods, rice, pasta, sugar, flour)
  • Blankets
  • Pillows
  • Towels
  • Socks
  • Underwear
  • Men’s clothing and accessories
  • Winter caps (during cooler weather)
  • Gloves (during cool weather)
  • Coats (during cool weather)

Hygiene Kit Drive

Volunteers can collect donations and collect hygiene kits for the men entering Memphis Union Mission’s recovery program. These items include:

  • Shampoo
  • Deodorant
  • Toothpaste
  • Toothbrush
  • Disposable razor
  • Shaving cream

Hygiene items should be assembled in large Zip-Loc bags. Volunteers can then drop off these items, or they can be picked up.

Inner City Outreach Sponsors

Every May, we hold a week-long outdoor crusade at our shelter. We are always looking for churches or Sunday school classes who can sponsor one night of the event by:

  • Underwriting the cost of one evening ($3,000)
  • Cooking the food
  • Serving the meal to our guests
  • Providing the music and preaching
  • Providing counselors

Adopt a Family

Churches and Sunday schools can adopt a family residing at Memphis Union Mission’s Intact Family Housing. This includes helping the families with certain practical needs (including during the holidays) and providing them with some friendship and encouragement.

Landscaping/Gardening

Bring your gardening tools to help bring a bit of spring to our buildings. Or help the men at Calvary Colony establish and maintain the vegetable garden.

Babysitting

Babysitters are needed at Moriah House on the fourth Monday and the fourth Thursday of each month. Babysitters will keep children so that women can attend Bible study uninterrupted. Bible study lasts from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

Office Work

Volunteers are needed at Moriah House to work in the office answering phones and taking care of other clerical duties.

Event Sponsor

Churches, companies, individuals can sponsor an event for our clients. This may be picnics, holiday events, sporting events, conferences, etc.  Volunteers will work with the Program Directors to approve a proposed event and pay for the associated costs.

Christmas Care Packages

We will need wrapped Christmas care packages to give to the men in our recovery programs.  Suggested items would include gloves, winter knit caps, socks, underwear, toiletries, Bibles, candy, and other items.

Mentors

Mentors needed to work with men as they come into the Transitional Program. Mentors will need to be interviewed, complete an application and receive recommendation from their pastor.  This opportunity will require weekly involvement and a six month commitment.