Service + Reflection

There are many organizations in DC doing important work to serve the needs of our city.  If you find an opportunity that sounds interesting, use the contact information to contact the organization directly so that you can tailor the opportunity to the needs of your group.

If you need more hands-on advice, kindly note so in your reservation request form.

Quick Notes

  • Scheduling. Most nonprofits have scheduled volunteering hours, usually early in the day, and around specific times based on people’s needs, like meal times.  These spots fill up quickly so it’s a good idea to make arrangements as early as possible.  Also, keep in mind that some agencies have a minimum or maximum number of volunteers that they can accept at any one time and many also have age requirements.

  • Dress. Be sure you know what the clothing requirements are! Many groups provide a detailed list, and even reject volunteers who are not dressed to their specifications.  A good standard to go by is long pants, closed-toe shoes, and no tank tops.

  • Reflection. Some opportunities have time for reflection about the service volunteers may give. The WSC encourages you to consider having opportunities for service, reflection and for your own group members to find their own voice about their experiences in DC.

Select Ideas

Capital Area Food Bank

 Capital Area Food Bank is the largest public nonprofit hunger and nutrition education resource in the D.C. Metropolitan Area.  Each year the CAFB distributes 20 million pounds of food, including 6 million pounds of fresh produce, to over 700 partner agencies. 

Volunteer activities: warehouse work, food packing, food sorting, gardening.

Everyone Home DC

Formerly the Capitol Hill Group Ministry, Everyone Home DC serves people transitioning out of homelessness, providing resources to support the successful transition to permanent housing. Everyone Home DC helps connect individuals and families to nutritious foods, education, employment services, parenting supports, children’s services, transportation, and physical and behavioral health care services,

Volunteer activities: Food services, guest services, administrative tasks, street outreach

DC Central kitchen

DC Central Kitchen recovers unused food from grocery and restaurant operations, prepares and delivers meals to partner social service agencies, trains and employs homeless men and women for the food service industry, and intellectually engages volunteers.

Volunteer activities: Food service, food prep, cleaning, gleaning (harvesting at a local farm)

So Others Might Eat (SOME)

SOME is an interfaith, community-based service organization that exists to help and support residents of our nation’s capital experiencing homelessness and poverty. SOME offers a variety of services, including affordable housing, counseling, addiction treatment, and job training. In addition, SOME helps meet immediate daily needs by providing food, clothing, and healthcare to those in need.

Volunteer activities: Meal prep, meal service
Youth opportunities? Yes

Food and Friends

Food and Friends provides specialized, nutritious meals, groceries, nutrition counseling and friendship to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses.

Volunteer activities: Meal prep, meal packaging, food sorting, cleaning
Youth opportunities? Yes

Thrive DC

Thrive DC works to prevent and end homelessness in Washington, DC by providing vulnerable people with a wide range of services to help stabilize their lives. We are a safety net for people experiencing homelessness, unemployment, housing instability, and food insecurity. With our help, our clients take the first steps toward independence and self-sufficiency.

Volunteer activites: Preparing food, distributing supplies, serving the meal, greeting participants, clean-up
Youth opportunities? Yes

Capitol Hill United Methodist Church

Café Capitol Hill and Our Daily Bread, a ministry of Capital Hill UMC, has been serving the local community since the 1990s by preparing and serving meals to our hungry neighbors.

Volunteer activities: Prepare meals, set up the dining area, serve guests, clean up

Serve DC

Serve DC is the DC Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism dedicated to promoting service as an innovative, sustainable solution to pressing social challenges. Serve DC supports communities across the District through federal grant funds from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).