Volunteer in and around Washington, DC

A Wider Circle 
A Wider Circle’s efforts focus on the creation of stable homes, workforce development, neighborhood revitalization, and the creation of greater awareness and engagement by the community, as a whole.  There are a variety of ways to volunteer and donate through holiday giving programs, donating items and more. Host a toy drive, sponsor a family and donate new gifts are part of the Holiday programs.

American Red Cross
The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.​ Make holiday cards to be sent to injured, ill or hospitalized service members and veterans as well as virtual opportunities.

Animal Welfare of Arlington’s Paws and Read
For more than 75 years, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington has served the Arlington community with animal sheltering and control services to help pet owners keep their animals healthy, happy, and home. Walk a dog and other opportunities. Bookmark this page for other youth programs such as summer camp and birthday parties.

Arlington Food Assistance Center
They feed neighbors in need by providing dignified access to nutritious supplemental groceries. Volunteers bag, distribute, drive, glean, grow, help in the office/warehouse, organize and assist at special events. Birthday Givers is great for younger kids.

Arlington National Cemetery 
Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, our mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 2,500 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad. Wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery is on December 18, 2021

Art for Humanity
Their mission is to help the poor, help themselves. They have been working in Honduras for a decade to help break the cycle of poverty that grips this beautiful country of wonderful people. Collect vitamins for adults and children and/or distribute the vitamins, sponsor a child’s education.

Bethesda Cares
They help ease, end and prevent homelessness in Montgomery County. Donate time, money or seasonal clothing and toiletries to this homeless prevention program.

Bread for the City
The mission of Bread for the City is to help Washington, DC residents living with low income to develop their power to determine the future of their own communities. They provide food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services to reduce the burden of poverty. They seek justice through community organizing and public advocacy. Pack bags of trimmings for the holidays, support the food, clothing, diaper, and other programs.

Capital Area Food Bank
The Capital Area Food Bank is the anchor of the hunger relief infrastructure in our region, providing more than 45 million meals to people in communities across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. But they don’t stop there, because they know that creating long term solutions to hunger requires more than meals. They approach the problem in multiple ways: providing food for today, and addressing the root causes of hunger by partnering with organizations that provide critical services like job training programs and health care. Sort and pack food for delivery as well as rake and plant in their garden and distribute fresh produce at free community farmer’s markets.

Cards for Hospitalized Kids
Cards for Hospitalized Kids is an internationally recognized charitable organization that spreads hope, joy & magic to hospitalized kids across America through uplifting, handmade cards. Create holiday (all major holidays) cards for kids.

Casey Trees
Their mission is to restore, enhance, & protect the tree canopy of our nation’s capital. There are frequent tree planting events throughout the city.

Catholic Charities
See their calendar of regular events you can help out at or become a regular. There are also Seasonal opportunities.

Central Union Mission
The Mission works to help transform the area’s toughest rehabilitation cases, including drug addicts, gang members, criminal offenders and the chronically homeless into productive members of society. Help host, serve and clean up at dinner service at the shelter.

Children’s National Medical Center
Dr. Bears Closet donations, greeters and patient care volunteers needed.

DC Central Kitchen (Ages 12+)
No current opportunities

DC Diaper Bank (All ages!)
Greater DC Diaper Bank, using a proven model, provides diapers to social service organizations that are already helping families in need through comprehensive programs and services. Diapers act as a “gateway” to introduce hard to reach families to social services and other vital resources. Donate diapers, sort, pack and stack diapers, sort inventory, and organize the Baby Pantry.

DC Hunger Solutions
No current opportunities

DCJCC
Annual days of service are listed.

Eliana’s Light 
Eliana’s Light supports DC, MD, and VA families that include children who have complex medical conditions. Join them to help improve the whole health, well-being and quality of life these families experience. You can volunteer by organizing “giving circles” for families; contributing your professional expertise in communications, accounting, and/or social work; and leading virtual talks on topics related to their mission (e.g., meditation, mindfulness, nutrition, etc.) for parents/caregivers/care providers. They’re open to your ideas and regularly organize new community service programming. Please email with a statement on how you’d like to be involved in this volunteer-based non-profit organization.

Feed the Fridge
Feed the Fridge is an effort to bring nourishment where there is hunger while helping small, local restaurants stay in business. Deliver meals for Thanksgiving. Through donations, paying participating restaurants more than $700,000 to provide meals, which in turn helps those restaurants stay open and pay employees.

Food for All
Food for All helps to improve the lives and health of people with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses that limit their ability to provide nourishment for themselves. Providing home grocery delivery for those not mobile enough to make it to other local organizations for assistance now makes over 3000 deliveries each year. Deliver food to those in need.

Food and Friends
Volunteers of all ages can join their adult family members delivering meals to clients’ homes, making this an ideal volunteer opportunity for parents with young children. Volunteers must be at least 14 to work in the kitchen preparing and packaging meals. Volunteers join all stages of the food preparation, from chopping vegetables to packing groceries also. 

Friendship Place
Friendship Place is the premier housing service provider for people experiencing homelessness in the DC region. Sponsor toiletry bags, outreach kits, or an alternate essential, help at an event, become a mentor and more.

Generation Hope
Ensures all student parents have the opportunities to succeed and experience economic mobility, Generation Hope engages education and policy partners to drive systemic change and provides direct support to teen parents in college as well as their children through holistic, two-generation programming. Volunteer at events, become a virtual tutor, in addition to other ways you can become involved.

Goods for Good
G4G now partners with over 20 local nonprofits in the DMV area that collectively serve a wide variety of people who are vulnerable and struggling during these difficult times. Be a sponsor or ally, lead projects and deliver goods.

Housing Up
Housing Up’s mission is to provide homeless and at-risk families with opportunities to transform their lives, and we cannot do it without your help. They offer a variety of opportunities ranging from one-time activities and in-kind donation drives to weekly opportunities as well as a holiday drive.

Humane Rescue Alliance
HRA protects animals, supports families, and advocats for positive change to create a world where all animals can thrive. Assist medical staff providing low-cost veterinary services, train and care for dogs, cats and/or small mammals, Take adoptable dogs for a run at local parks and more options for younger kids.

Inova Fairfax Hospital
Volunteering will give you the opportunity to get an “inside look” at a medical campus while learning about support functions in patient care and retail operations. Program specifically for high schoolers.

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue
Lucky Dog Animal Rescue is a volunteer-powered nonprofit dedicated to rescuing homeless, neglected, and abandoned animals from certain euthanasia and finding them loving forever homes. Prepare for animal’s arrival, meet them at transport, assist with the matching, and help at adoption events.

Martha’s Table
Martha’s Table runs nationally accredited education programs, pairs healthy food access with physical and mental health services, and promotes family success by investing in family leaders. Deliver meals, sort and display clothing donations, volunteer at one of the markets and help make and serve a meal.

Mary’s Center 
Mary’s Center is a community health center serving nearly 60,000 people of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds in the Washington, DC metro area for over 30 years. Volunteer for events, sort donations or host a drive.

Miriam’s Kitchen
Helping to end chronic homelessness with the help of the community. Volunteers can help distribute toiletries, fulfill clothing orders, or simply engage with guests. Some volunteers help by giving haircuts, manicures, or writing resumes. Due to Covid19, kitchen shifts have been suspended. Volunteers to hand out meals and drinks in our tent outside.

N Street Village
N Street Village supports women in Washington, D.C. experiencing homelessness by offering a broad spectrum of services, housing, and advocacy in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. Sponsor a community dinner, help run BINGO, be part of a holiday committee, help with meals and more.

National Park Service
Work behind the scenes or on the front line in positions ranging from a one-time service project/ volunteer event to a longer term position, serving alongside park employees or with one of our many partner organizations.

So Others May Eat (Ages 13+)
SOME provides material aid and comfort to our vulnerable neighbors in the District, helping them break the cycle of poverty and homelessness through programs and services that save lives, improve lives, and help transform lives of individuals and families, their communities, and the systems and structures that affect them. Volunteer and service programs include youth opportunities, holiday opportunities, family services, and meal service as well as the SOME Volunteer Corps.

Spend Yourself Food Pantry
Spend Yourself Food Pantry provides food to hungry people in our community. Their goal is to help the hungry and build relationships in a warm and welcoming environment. Drivers are needed to deliver food, food pantry volunteers and more.

Star Gazing Farm 
Star Gazing Farm takes in abused, stray, and unwanted farm animals in need and provides them with a permanent home. Sponsor an animal, donate funds or materials to the farm, volunteer on the work days or during open houses, participate in our garden or house an animal.

Thrive DC
Thrive DC works to prevent and end homelessness in Washington, DC by providing vulnerable people with a wide range of services to help stabilize their lives. Unload food from trucks from Capital Area Food Bank, distribute bagged meals to clients, help bag supplies, sort mail, and assist with general office tasks.

Toys For Tots 
Since 1947 The Marine Corps and Toys for Tots Has Been Making a Difference in the Lives of American Families. Find a drive and donate.

We Are Family
We Are Family mobilizes a committed corps of volunteers to reach out to isolated inner-city seniors with free services, advocacy, and companionship, building a network of caring eyes and ears that enables at-risk seniors to age in place. Deliver groceries to seniors, visit with seniors in their homes, help a senior with cleaning/household chores, provide transportation for a senior or host a fundraiser or help raise funds for We Are Family.