Urban Ministries of Durham

Urban Ministries of Durham has three primary programs:

1. The Community Shelter provides emergency shelter for 120-150 homeless people every night. The shelter includes 9 rooms, each with a private bath, for transitional shelter for families.
2. The Community Kitchen serves three meals per day seven days a week, without charge, to anyone who comes to our dining room.
3. The clothing closet and food pantry provide donated clothing to 1000+ people annually and groceries for at-home use to 350-400 people every month.

All individual volunteers are asked to commit to a regular schedule of at least once a month on the same day or days for at least 3 months.

• Community Kitchen Volunteers - Volunteers are needed to help prepare and serve breakfast and lunch weekdays at the UMD Community Kitchen. No experience required. Shifts of two hours or more weekdays between 7:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. are requested. Minimum age 15 years old (under 18 must be accompanied by an adult). Most weekends and evenings are reserved by groups. Please, no walk-ins.
• Community Clothing Closet - Small groups of volunteers are needed to help clients with clothing items, as well as to sort and hang clothing. Local churches, civic organizations, or any small group of 2-3 volunteers are appreciated. Training is provided. Shifts are two and one half hours, 1:00-3:30 p.m. Help is especially needed on Mondays.
• Shelter Assistants - Friendly people are needed to answer the telephone, and to greet and provide information to visitors and clients. Volunteers will be oriented about Urban Ministries, and they will convey that information to the public. Volunteers are also needed to distribute supplies to residents, to assist staff, and to help monitor the shelter overnight. Shifts of two hours or more are available weekdays, weekends and evenings.
• Data Entry Volunteers - Volunteers with computer skills are needed to assist in keeping databases up to date. This work must be done at Urban Ministries, not in the volunteer’s home. Two-hour or more shifts are available Monday through Friday.

The online volunteer form is here .