Intake Account!

This application is for anybody who is interested in an ongoing volunteer role with one of our programs. Typically, people commit to serving ~4 hours a week for 6 months to a year. You then would have the option to sign up for another year or to take a step back. These roles require screening and your attendance at an orientation.

If you are not interested in serving on a weekly basis (or want to get started right away), please feel free to check out our Volunteer Calendar to see individual opportunities where you can simply "sign up and show up" right away!

Or, if you spoke to someone who works at Catholic Charities about volunteering for a specific program or doing a specific internship but don't see that option in the list, complete this application.  There is a place in the application where you can tell us who you talked to and what you hope to do.

Either way, if you complete this application, we will give you a call to talk through the roles that are available!

Volunteers will greet people and give them boxed breakfast and lunches. We provide these meals 5 days a week: Monday - Friday. The people coming for the meals are regular clients of Anchor Behavior Health programs. The Program serves people who are vulnerable to a number of conditions, including food insecurity and isolation. We provide these meals to make sure they get nutritious meals twice a day and have the opportunity to engage with a community of caring people.

Impact of the Volunteers:

Volunteer engagement will foster positive relationships with our consumers and help them feel like valued members of the community. The Cafeteria Volunteers will be supervised by the Admin Clinic Manager who will ensure proper training, development, and support while the volunteer is on-site.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Cafeteria Volunteers will  

• Receive meals from the contractor and ensure that there are at least 25 meals available to serve consumers.
• Engage with consumers in chit-chat as they come for their daily for breakfast and lunch
• Check each consumer’s ID for verification and record the consumer’s name in the male log.
• Track number of consumers that come in per day for breakfast and lunch to ensure that we have enough meals to provide.
• Clean the eating area – wipe down the tables, sweep the floor – after each consumer has finished eating and lock up the kitchen before leaving.
• At the end of each shift, the volunteer should submit the breakfast/lunch log to the Admin. Clinic Manager.

Qualifications:

Volunteers should:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Have a friendly demeanor and desire to serve others
• Ability to remain calm is stressful situations
• Be able to lift at least 25 lbs.
• Adhere to an appropriate. casual dress code (no distressed or revealing clothing).

Desired Skills, Experience & Characteristics:

• Bilingual (Englis-Spanish) is a plus, but not required.

Volunteer Benefits:

Volunteers will become more familiar with the Anchor Mental Health community of clients and Catholic Charities work with this community. Volunteers will be part of a small and effective team who make a difference for people who are marginalized by society.

Support:

Volunteers will receive training and support from on-site staff.

Time Commitment:

We are looking for volunteers who can commit to serving at least twice a month, every other week, the same day of the week, for a year.

Breakfast service is roughly 1 hour. Lunch service is also roughly 1 hour.

Location:

Volunteers will serve in-person at Anchor Mental Health, 1001 Lawrence St., NE, Washington, DC 20017

Residential street parking is available within 3-4 blocks of the building.

Anchor is accessible by public transportation. The Brookland Metro Station is 3 blocks walk.

Staff Liaison:

Admin Clinic Manager

202-635-5957; 

Next Steps:  

• Complete the application at the green button to the right  

• Have a brief, informal Get to Know You conversation with Catholic Charities Volunteer Office staff member
• Talk with the staff liaison for this role to match mutual expectations 

• Complete the required screening, e.g., criminal history check (not disqualifying) 

• Attend volunteer orientation 

• Schedule your service 

Catholic Charities Legal Network  provides pro bono civil legal services to low-income families and individuals throughout the Archdiocese of Washington. Case types, in Washington, DC and Maryland, include: landlord/tenant, family (child custody, divorce, child support), government entitlements (SSI/SSDI), consumer debt/bankruptcy, estate planning (will drafting, advanced healthcare directives, power of attorney), employment, and record sealing.   

Community Companions Classroom Volunteer

The Community Companions Program was established in 1989 as an after-school program for children and young adults with Developmental Disabilities. The program has since expanded to serve children with autism and has grown to include school-respite days and summer camp programs. The program, located in Rockville, Maryland, has the capacity to support 30 children who reside in Montgomery County, Maryland. Licensed by the Maryland Child Care Administration, it is one of the few quality childcare programs for children with disabilities in Montgomery County. The program strives to help children develop in the areas of communication, functional living, and gross and fine motor, recreational/leisure, self-help, and social behavioral skills. These skills are addressed in a safe, fun, and age-appropriate environment through activities that include cooking, computer activities, outings to various community locations, various board games, a variety of sports equipment and much more. The program also participates in community integration activities with community-based groups within Montgomery County.

Volunteer Impact:

• The volunteer will work with one or two students that are not engaged in the large group activity.
• This work will provide diversity in teaching techniques for our participants, which may help staff discover other options for keeping participants engaged in activities.
• Participants will benefit from spending time with a volunteer that is willing to work with them and engage in an interactive activity that they may enjoy.
• This is also an opportunity to discover additional skills that students may have or be able to improve.
• This will also relieve stress from the student by allowing them a choice to be engaged in something different within reason. ·
• The volunteer’s impact may be evaluated based on participation of students, student reactions, staff feedback, and feedback from parents when appropriate.

Duties & Responsibilities: ·

• Facilitate/teach/deliver/organize activity and distribute supplies.
• Volunteer will be responsible for setup and clean up for activity within reason. 
• Enjoy time with the student. ·
• Play! 

Qualifications

• Must have a CJIS background check. ·
• Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. 
• Must speak and read English.
• Some Spanish is a plus.
• Patient and Energetic
• Able to sit or stand while working with students

Desired Skills, Experience & Characteristics: ·

• Desire to work with children
• Able to follow printed directions
• Experience working with children or people with developmental disabilities

Volunteer Benefits

• Volunteer can gain work experience in a licensed childcare facility.
• Leadership skills 
• Facilitator experience
• Learn more about the early childhood profession 
• Experience working with students with developmental disabilities.

Support

• Staff will be present and available for support or assistance of any kind.

Time Commitment

•  Minimum of 1-2 hours per week
• In order for the children to become comfortable with the volunteer to work one-to-one they must have a consistent presence. Must be available at least once per week for a 1-2 hour session.

Location

• Address: 1010 Grandin Ave, Rockville, MD 20851 
• Parking is available
• Metro accessible: Rockville Station is ~20 minute walk from our building
• Building is at the intersection of Grandin Ave & Woodburn Ave.
• Parking lot is located on Woodburn.
• There is an entrance on Woodburn and on Grandin which are both accessible but will require a code to enter. Chosen volunteers will receive the code after their first visit.

Next Steps:  

• Complete the application at the green button to the right  

• Have a brief, informal Get to Know You conversation with Catholic Charities Volunteer Office staff member
• Talk with the staff liaison for this role to match mutual expectations 

• Complete the required screening, e.g., criminal history check (not disqualifying) 

• Attend volunteer orientation 

• Schedule your service 

Community & Employment Outreach Volunteer 

This volunteer in this position works with our employment program to help find jobs that are available to people who recently immigrated to the US. Obtaining reliable and consistent employment can change the trajectory of a family's life. By reaching out to businesses to encourage them to collaborate with us on hiring our program graduates, this volunteer provides connections that can help build the lives of future generations.   

Duties & Responsibilities: 

• Collaborate with the staff of the SCC to plan outreach
• Call businesses to identify potential job openings

Qualifications: 

• Minimum age of 18 

• Access to a Laptop Computer
• Spanish speaker preferred

Desired Skills, Experience & Characteristics: 

• Good verbal skills 

• Willpower to keep going when it’s tough 

• Resilience, Focus, and Friendliness 

• Workable computer skills 

Time Commitment: 

• Volunteers must commit to 4-6 hours per week for either 6-months or 1-year  

Location: 

• Spanish Catholic Center (DC)  1618 Monroe St NW  

• The closest Metro stop is Columbia Heights Metro station with a 13 m13-minutek 
• Once exiting the Columbia heights metro station, go north on 14^th street for 3 blocks, then take a left and walk on Monroe Street, once you pass the intersection, our building will be on the left. 

Next Steps:  

• Complete the application at the green button to the right  

• Have a brief, informal Get to Know You conversation with Catholic Charities Volunteer Office staff member
• Talk with the staff liaison for this role to match mutual expectations 

• Complete the required screening, e.g., criminal history check (not disqualifying) 

• Attend volunteer orientation 

• Schedule your service 

Instructor of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Have you always wanted to teach? Do you have a passion for helping others succeed? Become an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Instructor and help to open opportunities and increase the confidence of adult non-English speakers.  No prior teaching experience necessary!  

Catholic Charities Immigrant Support Services system of integrated services uses a holistic approach to address our clients’ needs by providing wrap around social services, employment supportive services, and education and training programs in the communities of DC and Gaithersburg. As an ESOL Instructor, you will teach beginner to intermediate level English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses for adults based on Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) standards. Catholic Charities will provide you with training on how to deliver ESOL lessons and keep a record of student attendance.     

We are looking for both in person and virtual teachers to start in September. As a volunteer, you will teach 2 to 4 days a week depending on your availability and in-person or virtually over Zoom. See the full list of skills, requirements, and characteristics below to get started and apply today!  

The ESOL Instructor Volunteers will be responsible for:   

• Teaching an existing curriculum on day-to-day English  
• Preparing to deliver lessons from Step-Forward series  
• Attending trainings 
• Keeping records of student attendance  

Desired Skills, Experience & Characteristics:   

• Willingness to learn how to deliver lessons  
• Able to connect with learners  
• Basic understanding of Microsoft Office Suite and internet skills (e.g. Google, Zoom)  

Qualifications:  

• Willingness to work with the immigrant community  
• fluent in English   
• Willing to volunteer in person at a location in Montgomery County, MD  

Volunteer Benefits:   

• Improved communication skills and teaching abilities  
• An opportunity to meet people from all walks of life  

Support:  

• Participate in Catholic Charities Volunteer Orientation  
• Receive program-specific training at the SCC Gaithersburg office 
• Receive training, supervision and support throughout the duration of session 
• Have staff supervision onsite (for in person teachers) or virtually (for virtual teachers)  

Time Commitment: 

• Volunteers commit to teach classes 2 or 4 days a week for 12 weeks.

• 12-week sessions are conducted:
  • January - March
  • April - June
  • July (5-week mini-session)
  • September - December
•  Volunteer training in ESOL instruction occurs in 2-hour sessions (6:30PM-8:30PM) for 2-days scheduled the week before the sessions begin.

Location & Schedule:

• virtually, Mondays - Thursdays, 6:30PM-8:30PM
• in-person, Mondays - Thursdays, 6:30PM-8:30PM @ St. Catherine Laboure Parish in Wheaton
• in-person, Saturdays, 9:30AM-12:30PM @ St Martin of Tours Parish in Gaithersburg
• in-person, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30PM-8:30PM @ Gaithersburg Library
• Parking is available in front of the facilities

Next Steps:  

• Complete the application at the green button to the right  

• Talk with Catholic Charities staff member about the role to match expectations 

• Complete the required screening: criminal history check (not disqualifying) 

• Attend orientation 
• Attend ESOL Instructor Training

• Schedule your service 

Summer Service for Adults in Formation for the Diaconate

Students attending local Catholic seminaries or houses of study associated with their religious order and adults in religious formation are welcome to apply to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington for one of the following types of placements:

• an undergraduate internship placement (~40 hours in a semester)
• an academic internship placement (~240 - 600 hours with clinical supervision in an academic year)
• a summer internship (~320 hours over 10 weeks, May-August)
• a special project placement for a graduate student or adult (~200 hours over, roughly a day a week for 9 months) 
• a summer service placement of accompaniment (~40 hours service between May-August)
  • perfect for aspirants and candidates for ordination to the diaconate

NOTE: If you are seeking 'sign up and show up' activities such as St Maria's Meals, Spanish Catholic Center Food Distribution, Catholic Charities Center Food Distribution, and SHARE Food Program activities, you may register for events on the CC DC Volunteer Calendar that suit their schedules.

Catholic Charities Program Served:

Examples of placements that are typically available to seminary students:

1. Anchor Behavioral Health, 1001 Lawrence St NW: students welcome clients, assist in the Medication Clinic – 2 students
1. This program provides behavioral health services to people who live on very limited resources. Seminarians perform a variety of duties, at the direction of the ABH staff they are assigned to, depending on their skills and abilities which may include welcoming people, reading documents to people, helping people complete forms, assisting the front office staff, etc.
2. Spanish Catholic Center, 1618 Monroe St NW: students help with the food pantry and food distribution – 2 students

1. This program provides a variety of services to people who are recent immigrants to the US and DC. Seminarians perform a variety of tasks, at the direction of SCC staff they are assigned to, depending on their skills and abilities which may include receiving donations, stocking shelves, distributing food, welcoming people, helping people to complete job applications, assisting front office staff, etc.

3. New York Ave Men’s Shelter, 1355 New York Ave NW: students help serve dinner – 2 students

1. This program provides low barrier, emergency overnight shelter to men. Seminarians perform a variety of tasks at the direction of the shelter staff which may include serving dinner, distributing mail, sheets, soap, welcoming and chatting with the men, playing bingo or other games, watching sports events

Examples of placements that may be available to adults in religious formation programs:

1. Catholic Charities Volunteer Engagement Office, 924 G St NW Washington DC + various locations
1. This program provides overall coordination of volunteer engagement across the Catholic Charities. Volunteers typically serve 1-day a week for at least 10 weeks.  They undertake a special project using their skills and knowledge that will expose them to volunteer engagement practices and leave an improvement in our capacity to engage volunteers. For example, organizing a special project and documenting the steps so we can repeat it in the future, creating graphics for recruitment campaigns and special events we can use in the next year, developing a volunteer enrichment activity – such as a discernment tool or reflection and sharing session.
2. New York Ave Men’s Shelter Ministry of Presence, 1355 New York Ave NW
1. This program provides low barrier, emergency overnight shelter to men. Volunteers in religious formation visit the shelter one evening a week for 10 weeks. They will perform a variety of tasks at the direction of the shelter staff which may include serving dinner, distributing mail, sheets, soap, welcoming and chatting with the men, or offering spiritual comfort, offering prayer and Bible study, sing-along of hymns, or other activities such as playing bingo or other games, playing sports trivia while watching sports events.
3. English as a Second Language Instructor, virtually or St Catherine Laboure Viers Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 
1. This program provides people learn to speak English using an established curriculum.  Volunteers attend 2 training sessions then are paired with another volunteer to teach classes 2 evenings a week for 10 weeks. 
4. Mitigating Food Insecurity, various locations and schedules
1. These programs provide individuals with prepared food or groceries or produce to mitigate food insecurity and food desserts. Volunteers will complete the volunteer orientation and sign up using the CC DC Volunteer Calendar for shifts that suit their schedule.
5. Trafficking Victims Assistance Program, 1018 Monroe St NE Washington DC
1. This program provides support to people escaping human trafficking.  Interns who are offered a placement in this program typically speak at least some Spanish to interact with people accessing services. Non-Spanish speakers will do a variety of important behind-the-scenes tasks to strengthen operations and support the program staff.
6. Other programs
1. Interns may propose a placement that interest them. Please consult the “Get Help” section of Catholic Charities website for background information about our programs.

Impact of the volunteer:

Seminarians and adults in religious formation will perform tasks that expand and enhance the experiences of people accessing services at Catholic Charities locations.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Be present to the staff and people accessing services at the Catholic Charities location
• Carry out tasks assigned by the staff
• Seminarians and adults in religious formation may request feedback on their performance by drafting responses to the school’s / program’s form and requesting their staff liaison to review/edit and submit it.

Qualifications:

• Must be 18 years old or older
• Complete the screening requirements for the placement: application, ID, background check authorization, government ID check, and attend volunteer orientation.
• When completing the application, give particular attention to respond to the narrative questions: why you want a placement at Catholic Charities and what knowledge, skills, and abilities you bring to your service ministry. Your answers should be thoughtfully composed so the reader gets an impression of you.
• Adults-in-Formation may be required to demonstrate qualification for certain placements and or complete additional training and screening for certain roles.

Desired Skills, Experience & Characteristics:

• Open and friendly demeanor
• Eager to experience, perhaps, a new environment
• Value and appreciate the lived experiences of people present, which may be very different from your own
• Work well as a team member
• Speak Spanish, preferably

Volunteer Benefits:

Seminarians will gain experience:

• Providing ministry of accompaniment and presence to people accessing services at Catholic Charities
• Develop a sense of solidarity with people accessing services of Catholic Charities
• Carry out tasks to help CC DC staff to serve people
• Log hours in the volunteer management system

Adults in religious formation, in addition to the above, will gain experience:

• Relevant to their chosen ministry
• Gain insight and practical knowledge about how Catholic Charities meets needs of people in our community
• Develop networks of contacts to take into ministry

Support:

Seminarians and Adults in religious formation will be supervised by CC DC Staff member who will:

• Provide instruction re tasks to perform
• Answer questions
• Inform volunteers of the safety protocols
• Provide feedback to a volunteers' program by responding to a draft composed by the volunteer
• Approve service hours that are logged in the volunteer management system

Time Commitment:

• 2-8 hours a week
• Serve a minimum of 40 hours over the course of the semester/summer
• Typical schedules:
• Anchor Behavioral Health: M-F during business hours
• Spanish Catholic Center: TU, morning or evening
• New York Ave Men’s Shelter: M-SU, late afternoon/evening

Location:

• Students will serve at one of these locations:
• Anchor Behavioral Health, 1001 Lawrence St NE
• Spanish Catholic Center, 1618 Monroe St NW
• New York Ave Men’s Shelter, 1355 New York Ave NE
• Catholic Charities Volunteer Engagement Office, 924 G St NW Washington DC + various locations
• English as a Second Language Instructor, virtually or St Catherine Laboure Viers Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD
• Trafficking Victims Assistance Program, 1018 Monroe St NE Washington DC
• Adults in Religious Formation placed to compete a special project may serve at any Catholic Charities location.

Next Steps:  

• Complete the application at the green button to the right  

• Have a brief, informal Get to Know You conversation with Catholic Charities Volunteer Office staff member
• Talk with the staff liaison for this role to match mutual expectations 

• Complete the required screening, e.g., criminal history check (not disqualifying) 

• Attend volunteer orientation 

• Schedule your service