Volunteer With Us!
We need you! Become a volunteer and join the fight against homelessness and hunger! Explore the roles below to discover what fits your interests and abilities.
Have some extra time in your schedule? Just a few hours a week can make a huge impact!
Shelter Support
As a shelter volunteer, you will assist shelter staff in distributing supplies, doing laundry, serving meals, engaging with shelter guests and much more. No two days are ever the same!
Shelter Enrichment
Share your talents, hobbies, or professional skills by hosting activities that foster connection, creativity, learning, and relaxation for shelter guests.
Donation Center
Do you have a passion for organization? As a volunteer in our Donation Center, you will work in a dynamic space and process the donations we receive each week—from hygiene supplies and clothing to camping gear and linens.
Welcome Center
Agate’s Welcome Center sees nearly 1,000 visitors each month for housing services, mail, food, water, or just an escape from the elements. As a volunteer you will support the front desk staff members, ensuring smooth daily operations and creating an inviting atmosphere for visitors.
Gather your family, friends, and faith communities to help make a difference!
Prepare Shelter Meals
It’s simple: a sandwich, chips, and fruit—this is all it takes to feed someone lunch. Purchase supplies to assemble and deliver lunches for guests at one of Agate’s two shelters.
Make Small Kits with Big Impact
Each day Agate’s teams distribute hundreds of kits to those in need. Kit-making is a great way for families, friends, congregations, or corporate groups to get engaged and support our mission. Whether at your office or in the comfort of your home, your group can volunteer by purchasing items and assembling special kits containing highly requested items.
Year-Round Opportunities:
- Hygiene Kits
- Snack Packs
- Harm-Reduction Kits
- Crochet Plarn Bedrolls
How do I get started?
Step 1: Apply
Complete the Volunteer Application so we can determine your interests and how they fit with our current needs.
Step 2: Phone Screening
Agate staff will reach out to schedule a brief phone/video call to learn more about you and your availability. You’ll also get a sense of the volunteer role and its impact.
Step 3: Background Check
Most volunteer roles require a basic background check, at Agate’s expense.
Step 4: Orientation & Training
We will provide you with an orientation session before you start volunteering—giving you a tour of the facilities, training on specific tasks, policies, and procedures.
Step 5: Scheduling
We use POINT to schedule our volunteers and track their hours. You will receive instructions on how to use this platform.
Questions? Contact me!
Jessica Fair, Volunteer Coordinator
612-200-3124
FAQs
The first step is to complete the Volunteer Application.
The process from applying to starting your first shift takes about a week, depending on the role.
We have opportunities every day of the week; morning, day, and evening shifts.
We ask volunteers to start with one 2-hour shift per week.
For most of our volunteer positions, orientation occurs during the scheduling process and over the first volunteer shift.
Most onsite opportunities require volunteers to be at least 18 years of age. However, our off-site group opportunities welcome volunteers of all ages.
All in-person opportunities are in the Whittier, Downtown, and Longfellow neighborhoods of Minneapolis. Agate Headquarters is located at 2309 Nicollet Ave.
We accept community service volunteers on a case-by-case basis as we prefer a long-term commitment from our volunteers, at least 3 months.
We often have a need for groups to help us with various projects and events. Explore the Group Volunteer Opportunities section above and click here to view all in-kind opportunities.
For all other questions about volunteering, please contact Jessica Fair-Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@agatemn.org
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