Explore community service opportunities to help the homeless in DFW. There are approximately 4,500 homeless individuals in Dallas and Collin county currently and we need to do more to help end this crisis.
Dallas Life
Dallas Life is a homeless shelter for men, women, and children. They provide meals, shelter, clothes, and counseling services to those in need. Also, they provide medical services to people staying in the shelter. To volunteer, you must be 10 or older, and fill out an application. You can volunteer in the kitchen by prepping food or serving meals. Also, there is an extensive list of items that they need including toilet paper, cereal, canned goods, clothing, and linens. You can drop off the items at:
1100 Cadiz St., Dallas.
volunteer contact: pculbertson@dallaslife.org
phone: 214-421-1380
Austin Steet Shelter
Austin Street Center provides shelter and meals to homeless adults in Dallas. They help serve 3 meals a day for approximately 500 people. Kids 12 and older can volunteer with an adult. Signing up to help is easy on their website:
You can volunteer for a shift to serve food. You can also bring snack packs that can include peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, protein bars, and other nonperishable snacks.
They also accept clothes donations.
Volunteer Coordinator: Jill Young
asc.volunteer@austinstreet.org
214-428-4242
1717Jeffries St, Dallas, TX
The Birthday Party Project
The Birthday Party Project helps homeless children celebrate a birthday by providing them with a party and making them feel special. You can help by assembling (gender neutral) party favor bags that should include: a clear favor bag, 4-5 small toys like cards, stress balls, squishy toys, playdoh, chapstick, pencils ( no candy please).
Please drop off or mail to:
2143 Farrington, Dallas TX 75207
Or you can volunteer by making birthday cards, wrapping gifts, organizing donations and sharing unwrapped new toys. They accept kid volunteers as young as 3 years old with a parent.
You can sign up to volunteer on their website:
https://thebirthdaypartyproject.org
The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center
The Bridge is a homeless shelter for 600 adult guests each day and 300 guests each night. They provide hot showers, meals and social services to help people transition out of homelessness.
You must be 18+ to voluteer, but they take donations such as blankets, backpacks, and towels.
You can make "WELCOME BASKETS" for the people coming out of homelessnes and transitioning into having their own home. The baskets include toiletries, towels, cleaning products, toilet paper, bedding, and kitchen supplies. There is a guide of how to make the basket on their website.
Contact: volunteer@bridgehrc.org
Vogel Alcove
This organization helps children and families overcome homelessness. They have served over 17,000 children. You have to be over 16 to volunteer or be accamponied by an adult. Also, they take donations and are in need of diapers, wipes, new toys, toiletries, children clothing, and shoes of all sizes. You can drop off donations at 1738 Gano Street, Dallas.
contact:
214-368-8686
Hope Supply
Hope Supply provides homeless children in Dallas with diapers, wipes, baby food, formula, and clothes.
You can volunteer at their warehouse to repackage diapers, make hygiene kits, and sort donations. They require sign up through the website and children must be over the age of 10. They have volunteer shifts on Saturday’s from 9-11am and 12-2pm.
You can also make hygiene kits and birthday boxes then drop them off at:
10480 Shady Trail #104, Dallas, Texas
Hygiene kits:
https://www.hopesupplyco.org/sites/default/files/Hope_in_a_Box.pdf
Birthday boxes:
https://www.hopesupplyco.org/sites/default/files/BirthdayBox.pdf
The Samaritan Inn
The Samaritam Inn is a comprehensive housing program for the homeless located at:
1514 N Mc DOnald St, McKinney, TX
Teens can volunteer with a parent, but they also have family service days (open to children over 5 years old) several times a year.
Please see their website for upcoming events and donation needs.
contact: volunteer@saminn.org