Volunteer
Interested in volunteering?
Choose the option that best fits your situation and follow the steps.
It’s that easy!!
Current Operating Hours
Thrift Store: Monday-Saturday 10am to 8pm
Donation Center: Monday-Saturday 10am to 8pm
Food Pantry: Monday-Friday 10am to 4pm
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR ALL HOURS
Volunteers ages 12 and up accepted. See below for procedures as they pertain to minors. Minimum age for any volunteer is 12.
We cannot accept walk-in volunteers. The appropriate paperwork and background checks must be completed prior to volunteering. See below for the steps required to complete this process.
We cannot accept current food pantry clients as volunteers. Former clients, who are no longer receiving services from House of Mercy, are welcome to apply.
CURRENT VOLUNTEERS: PLEASE schedule your shifts through the volunteer login so we can maintain the proper number of volunteers and avoid overcrowding during the pandemic.
INDIVIDUALS
16-17 years old
12-15 years old
Volunteer Handbook
Download a copy of our current volunteer handbook.
ADULTS (18 years and older)
Step ONE
Fill out our online application form.
Step TWO
Pay for your background check. ($21)
Step THREE
Complete background check through “Verified First” email.
Step FOUR
Upon completion of background check, we will email you with instructions on how to sign up for volunteer shifts.
MINORS (16 & 17 years old)
Minors in this category are not required to have a parent/guardian chaperone.
Step ONE
Fill out our online application form.
Step TWO
Have a parent or guardian fill out our minor agreement form.
Step THREE
We will email you instructions on how to sign up for volunteer shifts.
MINORS (12-15 years old)
Minors in this category are required to have a parent/guardian chaperone who has completed the adult volunteer application and background check. Minimum age to volunteer is 12.
Step ONE
Fill out our online application form.
Step TWO
Have a parent or guardian fill out our minor agreement form.
Step THREE
We will email you instructions on how to sign up for volunteer shifts.
COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEERS
Step ONE
Fill out our online application form.
Step TWO
Pay for your background check. ($21)
Step THREE
Complete background check through “Verified First” email.
Step FOUR
Upon completion of the background check, we will email you with instructions on how to sign up for volunteer shifts.
Step FIVE
Upon completion of hours, we can write a letter confirming you hours, but you must properly sign in and out of each shift. Please give us prior notice of your last day.
GROUP INQUIRIES
Group scheduling is subject to availability. Groups must have 5 or more people. The minimum age to volunteer in any group is 12.
Step ONE
Fill out our online group inquiry form below. Minimum age to volunteer is 12.
Step TWO
Upon receipt of your registration form, the Volunteer Coordinator will be in touch to finalize the details of your groups’ visit.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS
What do food pantry volunteers do?
Food Pantry volunteers assist with organizing food donations, packing bags and carts of food for distribution, re-packaging rice & beans, cleaning, preparing food for mobile food pantry distribution and other duties as needed.
What do thrift store volunteers do?
Have a knack for displaying merchandise and keeping a store clean & organized? Join the thrift store volunteer team! Help by merchandising the store – put out new items for sale and clean out the old items that haven’t sold; keep the shopping area looking spotless; be the face of House of Mercy by working the register and much more!
What do donation center volunteers do?
If you love organization and customer service, this is the job for you! Join our Donation Center volunteer team to accept new donations, sort incoming donations and prepare them for sale in the store.
What do food pick up/mobile pantry volunteers do?
Want to volunteer but aren’t able to work onsite? Join our Food Pick Up or Mobile Pantry team. You will be responsible for driving food to or from one of our partner sites.
Most needed time slots:
9:00-11:00 am Monday-Thursday
I need service hours for confirmation and/or school, what options do I have?
Students can volunteer at House of Mercy, but must fill out the appropriate paperwork to do so. Requests for confirmation of hours should be made with at least 48 hours advance notice.
May I receive a confirmation letter with the total amount of hours I have completed here?
Yes. Email John McClay at jmcclay [at] houseofmercyva.org.
Do I have to sign in and sign out every shift?
Must I schedule myself before arriving?
Yes. In advance is best, but even if it is the day before, that is okay.
What if I forget to sign in or out?
Email John McClay at jmcclay [at] houseofmercyva.org.
Do you have to run my Background Check?
Yes. We want to set a standard procedure of protection for everyone who works and visits here and prioritize their safety since we see so many people go through our building, especially the vulnerable population. If you have any questions regarding the background check, please contact us at 703.659.1636.
I already had my Background Check run by my job, do I have to do it again through you?
Yes. We do not have access to your Background Check if your job ran it. Also, your job may have different requirements they are looking for in your records.
If I am/my child is a minor, do you have to run a background check?
No. They still must complete a Volunteer Application Form though as well as our Minor Consent Form.