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OSH Volunteer Opportunities

You make a difference

Volunteers are vital to the work of OSH, serving meals, hosting game nights, assembling kits, and helping the shelter be the welcoming place our guests love.

A volunteer spinning the bingo cage at the shelter
You make a difference

Volunteers are vital to the work of OSH

From two-hour weekday shifts to a group dinner served every night of the year, volunteers are at the heart of Our Saviour's Housing.

Find the opportunity that fits, then complete the interest form. Our Volunteer Coordinator will set up a tour and a conversation.

Ready to volunteer?Read the FAQ
A volunteer serving a meal at the shelter
For individuals

Volunteer opportunities for individuals

Shelter Aide

Help provide hospitality and support to adults experiencing homelessness by volunteering at the emergency shelter. Tasks include visiting with guests, assisting volunteer groups serving dinner, answering the door and phone, doing laundry, cleaning, and clerical tasks.

  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • Must pass a criminal background check (prior offenses will not automatically disqualify applicants)
  • No experience or background in social services required
  • Two-hour shifts on weekdays

Share your Skills

Host a craft night at the shelter, hold a resume workshop, share your favorite hobby with our guests. We are open to your ideas!

  • Must be at least 18 (or accompanied by an adult if under 18)
  • Monday–Sunday, 8:00–9:00pm

Shelter Bingo or Game Night Host

Host Bingo or a Game Night in the shelter. Games give guests a chance to relax and socialize in the evening. For Bingo, bring 5–10 small prizes such as treats, gift cards, socks, or hygiene items. For Game Night, bring card or board games and small prizes.

  • Must be at least 18 (or accompanied by an adult if under 18)
  • Monday–Sunday, 8:00–9:00pm

Internships

We occasionally work with students through internships in social work, public health, fundraising, communications, volunteer management, nonprofit administration, and other fields.

  • Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@oscs-mn.org with internship ideas
For families and groups

Shelter meal service

Volunteer groups purchase, prepare and serve meals at the emergency shelter every night of the year.

Serve dinner

Volunteer dinner groups purchase, prepare, and serve a nutritious meal to 38 guests at the emergency shelter every night of the year. Groups may prepare meals in advance or use the shelter kitchen. Volunteers serve assembly-line style at 7:00pm, after shelter staff make an announcement.

  • Best suited for groups of 2–8
  • Arrive at 6:30pm; about 2 hours on site including clean-up
  • Dinner is served at 7:00pm
Pick a date on Sign-Up Genius →

Serve breakfast or lunch

Volunteer breakfast and lunch groups purchase, prepare, and serve a nutritious meal to residents at the emergency shelter. Groups may prepare meals in advance or use the shelter kitchen.

  • Best suited for groups of 2–4
  • Breakfast served at 8:00am, lunch at 12:00pm
  • About 2 hours on site including clean-up

Sponsor a meal

Looking for an alternative to preparing and serving a meal? Sponsor a meal at the emergency shelter. A gift of $250 or more allows us to cater a meal from a restaurant for 38 guests.

  • $250 provides pizza for 38 guests
  • $300 buys a more nutritious meal from a chain restaurant
  • $350 buys a more nutritious meal from a local restaurant
Sponsor a meal →

Make sandwiches

Help guests stay fed and healthy by providing hearty, nutritious sandwiches. This works for all ages: church groups, co-workers, school and civic clubs, youth groups, families, or friends. All sandwiches must be assembled offsite prior to arrival.

  • Multiple slices of meat and cheese (no bologna) on whole wheat bread
  • No condiments or vegetables on the sandwiches
  • Each sandwich in a Ziploc-style bag, packed into the original bread bag
  • Label the bread bag with the date and the meat used
  • A group of 10 usually makes 150–200 sandwiches in one hour

Assemble snacks

Help provide guests with snacks to add to their lunch. Purchase snacks in bulk online or at local grocery stores, snacks can also be shipped directly to the shelter.

  • Individually wrapped or portioned snacks
  • Fruit snacks, chips, crackers, trail mix, granola bars, cookies, beef jerky
  • No fresh fruit or vegetables, as they may spoil
  • Sign up for a drop-off timeslot in advance
Kits

Assemble a kit

Shelter Welcome kit

When guests enter the emergency shelter, they often lack personal care items. Welcome kits supply the basics.

  • One new pillow
  • One twin size sheet set
  • One bath towel
  • One washcloth
  • One hand towel

Gently used items are accepted if pre-washed and free of stains or rips.

Hygiene kit

A smaller but useful alternative to a full Shelter Welcome kit.

  • One bath towel
  • One washcloth
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Deodorant
  • Body wash and/or a bar of soap
  • Travel size shampoo

Pack items into individual bags and deliver them to the shelter.

Laundry kit

Clean clothes are among guests' most essential needs, and guests must provide their own supplies.

  • Powdered detergent for 2–3 washes, or 2–3 detergent pods
  • 2–3 dryer sheets

Pack items into individual plastic snack or sandwich size baggies.

Undergarment essentials

New undergarments are among guests' most urgent needs throughout the year. Coordinate a drive or donate directly.

  • Men: boxers or briefs (S–XXXL), socks (winter and regular), undershirts (S–XXXL)
  • Women: underwear (S–XL), socks (winter and regular), pads and tampons

All items should be new.

Beat the Heat kit

Items that keep shelter guests safe from summer heat.

  • Sunscreen (SPF 30–50)
  • Lip balm with SPF
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Sunglasses
  • Baseball-type cap or umbrella

Flu Free kit

Homelessness puts significant stress on the body, making guests more vulnerable to illness.

  • Hand sanitizer
  • Tissue packs
  • Antibacterial wipes
  • Vitamin-C packs
  • Travel size ibuprofen or acetaminophen

Move In basket (PSH)

Move-in baskets are needed each time a resident joins the Permanent Supportive Housing Program. After years of homelessness, limited budgets make it tough to make an apartment feel like home.

  • Durable mop
  • Durable broom and stand-up dust pan
  • Plastic shower curtain and rings
  • Toilet brush, plunger, and cleaner
  • Multipurpose cleaner
  • 13 gallon trash can and garbage bags

Extra special options: a microwave, a full size or larger air mattress, or a 10-piece nonstick cookware set.

Home Care kit (PSH)

Home care kits are needed every month to sustain more than 100 residents in the Permanent Supportive Housing Program.

  • 5–6 trash bags (13 gallon)
  • 8 rolls of toilet paper
  • 1–2 rolls of paper towel
  • 1 bottle of dish soap (8 oz. or larger)
  • 1 sponge

Pack all items into one of the garbage bags. Kits are great projects for youth and adults alike.

Assemble kits at home, at the office, at school, or at your place of worship. When you're finished, sign up for a drop-off time slot: Monday–Friday 9:00am–5:00pm, or Saturday–Sunday 9:00am–3:00pm. Donations of any quantity are welcome.

For individuals or groups

More ways to help

Property maintenance

Maintaining a clean and welcoming space for guests and residents takes many hands. Help with painting, cleaning, yard work, or other tasks around our properties. Throughout the year we need groups of many different sizes and ages, and skilled trades professionals are welcome to help with special projects.

Donation drive

A donation drive is an excellent way to provide needed supplies and spread the word about OSH. Gather items on your own, or organize with your school, workplace, faith community, or friends.

  • Breakfast foods
  • Winter gear
  • Pajamas

Contact the Volunteer Coordinator in advance, space is limited. We don't accept heavily used or expired items or children's items.

Shelter tour

Shelter tours deepen and add an educational component to volunteer engagement. Tours are available by appointment Monday–Friday between 9:30am and 4:30pm.

To schedule, contact the Volunteer Coordinator.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Volunteers at OSH come for many different reasons: a desire to make a tangible impact in the lives of those experiencing homelessness, a passion for housing and urban issues, an opportunity to gain experience in a future career or try something new, and new friends in a fun, vibrant community. Please note that OSCS does not offer court-ordered community service hours.
Our volunteers come with diverse gifts, backgrounds, and experiences. Certain qualities help ensure a good fit for everyone: friendly, respectful, and compassionate towards all people; reliable and timely; self-directed with a high degree of initiative and flexibility; and comfortable working with a wide diversity of guests, staff, and volunteers.
Staff, guests, and volunteers strive to maintain a sense of community and respect, and children are welcome at the shelter. In recent years we have been serving an increasingly vulnerable population, resulting in more guests displaying acute symptoms of physical, mental, or chemical health challenges. We recommend keeping children age 10 and younger within eyesight, and age 5 and younger within arm's reach, the same precautions you would take in any public setting.

We use a harm reduction model. The priority is keeping people indoors and safe: if someone is under the influence, they are welcome to stay as long as their behavior remains safe and non-disruptive. We hold high expectations for behavior. Tell staff right away if you are concerned about someone.

The building has controlled entry and indoor and outdoor security cameras. There is a parking lot next to the building for volunteers, and staff are always present any time volunteers and guests are on site.
Three easy steps: (1) review the volunteer opportunities and find the right fit; (2) complete the online interest form for individuals or for groups, or contact the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@oscs-mn.org with questions; (3) the volunteer coordinator will contact you to set up an in-person tour and meeting.
Ready to volunteer?

Start here

Individuals

Complete the individual volunteer interest form and we'll follow up to set a tour and meeting.

Apply here

Groups

Fill out the group volunteer interest form, then contact the Volunteer Coordinator for open dates.

Apply here
Individual volunteer applicationApply online at oscs-mn.orgOpenGroup volunteer applicationApply online at oscs-mn.orgOpenWish ListThe items guests need most right nowOpenShelter expansionHow we grew to 24/7 shelter for 38 peopleOpen

Questions? volunteer@oscs-mn.org · 612.386.6626

Another way to help

Sponsor a meal instead.

A gift of $250 or more caters a meal for 38 guests at the emergency shelter.

Donate nowWays to give