Group Volunteer Opportunities

Hospitality House Group Volunteers

Because there are so many opportunities to help our House, we will gladly work with you to tailor volunteer assignments to best match your group’s needs and preferences. Since our Group Volunteers do not work on a regular basis, the do not have to particpate in our Volunteer Training Program to volunteer. Whether you are coming in as a faith-based group, a family, a civic organization or a business, our guests and staff value and appreciate your help. All of our group volunteer activities can be done once or twice a year, once a month, or as often as your schedule allows. Below are some suggested activities for our group volunteers:

Create goodie bags: Decorate 24 lunch bags and fill them with bottled water, a candy bar, or a short note of encouragement. We will then put them in our guests' rooms for a pleasant surprise.
Work in the yard: There are several times during the year when we need extra help to plant flowers, pull weeds, and fill the gaters (in summer). Please bring any work gloves or work tools you might need. We do not have enough supplies for an entire group.

Cook a meal: Groups can come to the house and make “Stone Soup" for our guests. This wonderful story can help people (young and old) to understand a little action by a few can make a big difference for many. You might, consider adopting one night a month and make that your family's or organization's night to cook for the House. Please refer to our section below on “Preparing a Meal for HHoC.”

Bring flowers: Flowers always brighten a room and make people feel better. You may bring them from your garden or purchase them from a store.
Help us clean our house: We do not have a daily cleaning crew and our guests and volunteers help keep the House neat and clean. You are welcome to help us “spring clean.”
Make greeting cards: Decorate cards with your creative artwork. (Craft stores have inexpensive packets of cards and matching envelopes.) Either make a card for our guests or create a blank card that guests can use to send notes home.

Host a Pantry Party: We are always in need of items to fill our pantry. Some groups have held paper parties to collect tissue, paper towels, paper napkins, and toilet paper (We use 50 rolls a week!) Challenge young volunteers to see who can collect the most toilet paper. What you use in your house we use in ours--we just use more of it. Here is our list of requested supplies.

Preparing a Meal for HHoC

Helpful Hints when preparing a meal for our guests:
We have about 30 guests to feed each night.
Our kitchen is simple. We have plates, cups etc. We have basic seasonings. If you need a special pan please call ahead to make sure we have one or bring your own.
“Heat and eat” meals or meals served right out of the refrigerator make it easy for guests. (These are nice too because our guests are all on different visitation schedules at the various hospitals and eat at different times.)
We encourage healthy eating but our guests appreciate any home-cooked meal, or home-baked cakes, cookies, and sweets.
We do not have scheduled meal times. We like to let the guests know before they leave for the hospital in the morning that a delicious meal will be waiting for them upon their return to the House. Please call to tell us that you will be bringing a meal so we may let our guests know in advance.