Volunteer FAQ
Volunteer FAQ’s
How long does the application process take?
You’ll receive an email about orientation within one week of submitting your application. We offer orientations weekly. Some volunteers can complete the intake process in as little as two weeks, where others may wait longer if they choose.
I only need to earn a small amount of hours for school/work. Do I still need to go through the application and orientation process?
We offer a few special events throughout the year, where an application and orientation aren’t needed. The volunteer slots for these events tend to fill up fast. We recommend going through the full intake process to get the most access to our volunteer opportunities.
What are your age requirements?
Anyone aged 14 and up may volunteer independently; however, you must be at least 16 years old to volunteer independently in our opportunities involving children.
Do you offer evening and weekend opportunities?
Yes! We offer volunteer opportunities most weeknights and Saturdays.
I want to volunteer with my family. How should we sign up?
Families can volunteer together for most of our opportunities. Anyone aged 14 and up should have a volunteer application submitted and attend an orientation.
How do I sign up for volunteer opportunities?
Once you have submitted your application, attended an orientation, and passed your background check, you will be admitted into our volunteer program! We send out an email to all volunteers every Monday with online sign up for all of our current opportunities.
Do you offer volunteer opportunities on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day?
At this time, we do not offer volunteer opportunities on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day.
Do you offer virtual or remote volunteer opportunities?
While most of our volunteer opportunities are in-person, we are working towards adding more remote opportunities. Volunteers should still go through our intake process to sign up for these activities, and the entire process can be done virtually.
Volunteer as an individual
Help us write thank you cards to our supporters, make phone calls, and enter data. Days and times vary.
Assist our SAMMExpress Donation team by volunteering as a Front Desk Assistant. Volunteers will help answer phones, enter data, and assist walk-in donors.
Help SAMMinistries create and maintain a vegetable and herb garden at the Transitional Living and Learning Center. Volunteers will work alongside residents in maintaining this space. No garden experience necessary.
Nationally, 20% of all children who experience homelessness will fail their grade. Help break this cycle by assisting elementary-aged children to complete their homework at our Transitional Living and Learning Center (TLLC). This opportunity is ideal for high school and college students as well as adults who enjoy tutoring children. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 4pm-6:30pm during the school year.
Our parents are busy going to work and school to support their families. They welcome any opportunity to spend time together as a family. Consider hosting a family enrichment event for the families living at TLLC. Ideas include: movie night; barbeque; family game night; and water fun day. Hosts are asked to provide ALL necessary items. Availability varies. Please contact Volunteer Services at 210-321-5639 for more information.
Every week, our donation station received much needed items for our clients from the community. We need volunteers to help us inventory donations so that they can be shared with the individuals and families that we serve.
At TLLC, our residents have access to a space where they can spend points that they earn from attending class and reaching their goals. We need volunteers to help stock, organize, and inventory our clothing and points store items. Days and times vary.
Throughout the year, SAMMinistries hosts various special events. You can assist the SAMM team at events like our Empty Bowls fundraiser in March, Our Back to School Bash in August, or Christmas Events at the end of the year. Days and times vary. Please contact Volunteer Services at 210-321-5639 for more information.
In order to ensure that our residents attain self-sufficiency, we offer different classes and activities to all the parents living at our Transitional Living and Learning Center. Classes include money management, parenting, conflict resolution, job readiness, and more. Volunteer to help in our Children’s Enrichment Center while the parents are in class. Weeknight evenings from 6:15pm-7:45pm.
The recently renovated Harvey E. Najim Library at the TLLC is now open for our residents to check out books. Library monitors help catalog and label books, check in and out materials, help staff and residents use library technology and find books, and maintain cleanliness and order in the library. The library is open every Saturday from 11:00am – 3:00pm.
Volunteer as a family
Help SAMMinistries create and maintain a vegetable and herb garden at the Transitional Living and Learning Center. Volunteers will work alongside residents in maintaining this space. No garden experience necessary.
Every week, our donation station received much needed items for our clients from the community. We need volunteers to help us inventory donations so that they can be shared with the individuals and families that we serve.
The recently renovated Harvey E. Najim Library at the TLLC is now open for our residents to check out books. Library monitors help catalog and label books, check in and out materials, help staff and residents use library technology and find books, and maintain cleanliness and order in the library. The library is open every Saturday from 11:00am – 3:00pm.
At TLLC, our residents have access to a space where they can spend points that they earn from attending class and reaching their goals. We need volunteers to help stock, organize, and inventory our clothing and points store items. Days and times vary.
Throughout the year, SAMMinistries hosts various special events. You can assist the SAMM team at events like our Empty Bowls fundraiser in March, Our Back to School Bash in August, or Christmas Events at the end of the year. Days and times vary. Please contact Volunteer Services at 210-321-5639 for more information.
In order to ensure that our residents attain self-sufficiency, we offer different classes and activities to all the parents living at our Transitional Living and Learning Center. Classes include money management, parenting, conflict resolution, job readiness, and more. Volunteer to help in our Children’s Enrichment Center while the parents are in class. Weeknight evenings from 6:15pm-7:45pm.
Volunteer as a group
Our parents are busy going to work and school to support their families. They welcome any opportunity to spend time together as a family. Consider hosting a family enrichment event for the families living at TLLC. Ideas include: movie night; barbeque; family game night; and water fun day. Hosts are asked to provide ALL necessary items. Availability varies. Please contact Volunteer Services at 210-321-5639 for more information.
Every week, our donation station received much needed items for our clients from the community. We need volunteers to help us inventory donations so that they can be shared with the individuals and families that we serve.
Cleaning, organizing, and inventorying are vital to ensuring a safe, beautiful home for our residents. Volunteer teams can deep clean the kitchen and help with other needed maintenance of TLLC. Projects in the past have included: painting; mulching; gardening; and organizing the children’s library. This is an opportunity for churches or groups. Availability varies. Please contact 210-321-5639 for more information.
Throughout the year, SAMMinistries hosts various special events. You can assist the SAMM team at events like our Empty Bowls fundraiser in March, Our Back to School Bash in August, or Christmas Events at the end of the year. Days and times vary. Please contact Volunteer Services at 210-321-5639 for more information.
In order to ensure that our residents attain self-sufficiency, we offer different classes and activities to all the parents living at our Transitional Living and Learning Center. Classes include money management, parenting, conflict resolution, job readiness, and more. Volunteer to help in our Children’s Enrichment Center while the parents are in class. Weeknight evenings from 6:15pm-7:45pm.
Once a week the families of TLLC all share a meal together to build community before parents attend life skills classes for the evening. Each year we seek groups to provide dinner to the families each Tuesday night. Dinner is served at 5:30pm and must be completed in time for class at 6:30pm. Meals cost teams an average of $300. Tuesday evenings. Please note that dates are booked up to a year in advance.