Work with the Silver City Gospel Mission

The Mission runs on volunteers. Every weekday we serve two meals, hand out food, clothing and kits, open our showers and laundry, hold mail for people without an address, and help people get IDs, benefits and housing. Here is everything you could help with. Find what fits your time and your gifts, then tell us below. Groups, families, students and retirees are all welcome. No experience needed for most roles; we'll show you how.

Tap + next to anything that interests you. It's added to your sign-up form at the bottom, so you don't have to type it.

1. Tell us what interests you and when you're free, using the form at the bottom.
2. We call you within a few days to talk it through and pick a first shift.
3. Your first shift: come to 111 S. Texas St. (behind Jalisco's Restaurant) and check in at the front desk. Someone will show you around and work alongside you.
4. Every time you come, sign in on the volunteer tablet at the front desk. Your hours help us win grants, and you can ask us for a record of them for school or work.

For kitchen and thrift store shifts, wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that can get dirty.

Breakfast 8:30-9:30 and lunch 12:00-1:00, Monday-Friday, all year.

• Breakfast crew (come about 8:00)
• Lunch crew (come about 11:00)
• Prep cook: chopping, cooking, baking
• Server on the line
• Coffee and drinks station
• Dining room host: greet people, clear tables, refill
• Dishwasher
• Cleanup crew: tables, floors, trash
• Put away food deliveries and rotate stock
• Cook holiday meals: Thanksgiving and Christmas
• Bring your group to cook a Friday lunch

• Pack monthly food boxes
• Stock and organize pantry shelves
• Unload trucks (strong backs welcome)
• Thursday Morning Mobile Pantry on Spring Street: hand out food, keep the line moving
• Pantry to the People: ride along to outlying towns like Hurley
• Senior Pantry, 3rd Thursday: carry boxes, visit with seniors
• Food runs: pick up donations from stores and farms (valid license)
• Pack weekend snack bags
• Sort and check dates on donated food
• Glean extra produce from gardens and orchards

Thrift store sales pay for the soup kitchen and food pantry.

• Receive and sort donations
• Hang, size and fold clothing
• Price items
• Cashier and customer help
• Arrange displays and the front window
• Help guests choose clothing at the clothing bank
• Test small appliances and electronics
• Move furniture and do pickups (truck owners: we need you)
• Wash donated linens and blankets
• Sell special items online
• Seasonal coat, blanket and school-clothes drives

• Run the shower and laundry sign-up (9:30-11:00)
• Hand out towels and toiletries
• Wash and fold towels
• Keep showers and restrooms clean
• Assemble hygiene kits
• Assemble survival kits for cold and hot weather
• Mend clothing and sew blankets
• Knit or crochet hats, scarves and blankets at home

• Greet guests and help them sign in
• Answer phones and take messages
• Help guests make local phone calls
• Explain our services and hand out referral slips
• Sign in volunteers and donations
• Keep the lobby and resource table tidy
• Spanish speakers to interpret

• Sit with guests over lunch and listen
• Peer support counselor, Mondays and Wednesdays (training provided)
• Mentor someone working toward a goal
• Visit seniors who come to the Senior Pantry
• Help with the voluntary Bible study
• Pray with guests who ask
• Write encouragement notes for snack bags and kits

Faith is never required for any service at the Mission. Volunteers serve everyone the same way.

Skills-based roles. We'll pair you with our resource manager or case worker.

• Help people get IDs, birth certificates and Social Security cards
• Help fill out SNAP, Medicaid and housing applications
• Resumes, job applications and practice interviews
• Set up an email account and phone
• Computer and smartphone help
• Reading, math and GED tutoring
• English and Spanish lessons
• Budgeting and money skills
• Social work (MSW) and nursing students: complete your hours with us
• Find and call other services for a guest

Our shelter for women and their children, including survivors of domestic violence. For everyone's safety, these roles need an application, a background check and training first.

• Tutor and read with the children
• Childcare during moms' appointments
• Teach cooking, budgeting and life skills
• Lead an art, craft or exercise night
• Help moms with job searches and housing applications
• House projects: painting, repairs, yard
• Shop for groceries and supplies
• Birthday and holiday celebrations

• Handyman repairs
• Painting
• Plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs (licensed)
• Yard work and weeding
• Snow shoveling and ice melt on winter mornings
• Deep-cleaning days
• Build shelves and organize storage
• Vehicle care: oil changes, small repairs

Some of these you can do from home.

• Data entry and filing
• Mailings: fold, stuff and stamp
• Thank-you notes and calls to donors
• Grant research and writing
• Photography and video (with guests' permission)
• Social media and newsletters
• Website help
• Bookkeeping and accounting help
• Computer and IT help
• Keep our list of local services up to date
• Speak at churches and clubs about the Mission
• Translate flyers and forms into Spanish

• Cook and serve holiday meals: Thanksgiving and Christmas
• Christmas gifts for families and guests
• Back-to-school backpacks
• Run a sock, water, hygiene or coat drive (see what we need)
• Fundraising events
• Friday Resource Days: help set up and welcome service providers
• Booth at community fairs

Churches, youth groups, schools, clubs, sports teams and businesses: bring a team for a day. Good group projects are cooking a Friday lunch, a thrift store sort day, packing hygiene kits or food boxes, a deep-cleaning or painting day, a yard day, or running a drive. Young people are welcome when their adults supervise. Students who need service hours, ask us.