MLF offers a wide variety of ways for people to help the homeless, but each location offers different volunteer opportunities. Please contact the nearest MLF Community in Austin, San Antonio, Minneapolis, New Bedford, or Providence. or to find out what particular volunteer opportunities are available for you. For other volunteer resources, you can refer to the information below:
- Make Ready
Responsibilities include preparing 150 sandwiches, preparing individual servings from bulk food as needed, and loading truck with all food and toiletries items for distribution to the homeless and working poor of Austin. Many families are involved, as their children can easily participate.
” Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.” Luke 6:21
Time Commitment: 1-2 hrs. once a month (normally starting at 4:00 P.M.)
- Truck Teams
Deliver food to the homeless and working poor of Austin. The team makes an itinerary and serves at the locations on their itinerary. Some teams have developed a strong faith community and go out for a bite to eat after the run.
” Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.” Matthew 25:45
Time Commitment: 2-3 hrs once a month (normally starting at 6:00 P.M.)
- Food Pick Up
Several volunteers needed to pick up a food order of free or low cost food. You will need a truck or SUV plus strong muscles to load and unload the order.
“…he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” Acts 14:17
Time Commitment: as needed
- Sandwich and More Team
Volunteers prepare 150 sandwiches for the next day’s truck run , complete the VA lunches, and do any other tasks that need to be completed. Great for the entire family!
” Many are invited, but few are chosen”. Matthew 22:14
Time Commitment: 1-2 hrs at 6:30pm on one Tues. per month
- Food Drive Coordinator
Organize and contact groups, schools, churches, etc. and encourage them to hold a food drive for MLF to fill the pantries with groceries to take on truck runs to low income families with kitchens.
“Bless us O Lord, for these thy gifts which we are about to receive.”
Time Commitment: as you like
- Egg Ministry
Help MLF keep a steady supply of hard boiled eggs in inventory for each truck run. You will be placed on an Egg Team with the responsibility to purchase eggs once per month (more if you like), boil them at home, and bring them back to the commissary. Great for parent/child service activity. Kids can decorate the eggs. Great for high school kids looking for service hours.
The egg is a powerful symbol of creation and life. It is hard to find a more compact nutritional food source. Those on the streets love the eggs, and second only to socks which are the most popular items on the truck.
Time Commitment: Once per month. Time to purchase, boil, and deliver the eggs
- Bread Ministry
We need several individuals to pick up Great Harvest Bread, Central Market and Starbucks treats various times during the week. Breads must be sorted and stored. Great for high schoolers needing service hours.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me…” Matthew 25:35-36
Time Commitment: 30-40 minutes a week
- Candy from Heaven
After Halloween groups collect candy at their schools, offices, churches, neighborhoods, etc. The candy provides sweet treats or dessert for the people we serve. You can volunteer to collect candy or to coordinate the entire collection. There are opportunities to inspect and sort the candy.
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103
Time Commitment: flexible
- Special Events Chair
Individuals to work closely with MLF to organize special events and fundraisers, such as Walk-a-thons, House Parties, Picnic in the Park, Thanksgiving & Christmas Feasts, etc. limited only by our imagination.
” Lord give me an open heart to find you everywhere.” Mother Teresa
Time Commitment: depending upon event
- Fundraiser
Work with others on a committee to raise funds for the operation of our commissary and trucks.
“Together we can do something beautiful for God”. Mother Teresa
Time Commitment: flexible
- Grant Writing
Individual(s) to work closely with MLF to locate grant opportunities and prepare grant applications.
” We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” Mother Teresa
Time Commitment: flexible
- Gardener
Assist MLF in caring for various landscape areas to keep our commissary beautiful.
” What is the kingdom of God like? ..It is like a mustard seed that a person took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and “the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.’” Luke 13:18-19
Time Commitment: work your own schedule with your own tools
- Garden Development
Carving out a garden bed with a fork and shovel, planting a bed of tomatoes, turning the compost pile, watering the seedlings, checking on the worms, and feeding the rabbit are just a short list of what might be done on Saturday mornings to make Genesis Gardens a beautiful& productive center for community. All skills levels and ages welcome.
- Harvest Crew
On Saturday mornings, the Genesis Gardens Harvest team will travel to all of our gardens, and under the skilled tutelage of a seasoned harvester, pluck, pack, trim, and wash the veggies that our distribution team will be delivering to our Community First! residents later in the day.
- (Good) Food Distribution Team
The Genesis Gardens Food Distribution team is doing a very simple act- getting the best food on earth into the hands of those who can least afford it- but they are doing it with an open heart and willing ear to engage those living in our Community First! program.
- First Fruits prep and Dinner Table Team
The first fruits and dinner table team will be taking from the bounty of Genesis Gardens’ harvests and combining it with their gifts and love to share a meal with their hungry and needy brothers and sisters. On Saturdays, this team will be preparing a meal for 20-30 folks who’ve been working all morning. We will then sit down and share in the bounty while engaging in conversations that one only hears at the tail end of a day on the farm.
- Solicit Toiletry Donations
Coordinate with MLF in contacting hotels, airlines, manufacturers, distributors, etc. for shampoos, lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sunscreen, socks, etc. This job can be done almost entirely from home on the phone or on the internet.
” One does not live by bread alone.” Luke 4:4
Time Commitment: flexible
- Truck Washing
Several volunteers are needed once every four to six weeks to wash the trucks inside and out and keep our fleet of trucks clean and shining.
” Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8
Time Commitment: flexible schedule
- Office Help
Address envelopes, assemble packets, do filing, etc. as needed
” So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:16
Time Commitment: infrequent (1-2 hours as needed)
- Prayer Card Artist
Decorate the back of prayer cards supplied by MLF. Cards are then laminated and distributed to the homeless. Perfect for artists of all ages!
” … there are many parts, yet one body.” 1 Corinthians 12:20
Time Commitment: flexible schedule
- MLF Truck Service and Maintenance
Trucks need regular servicing and preventative maintenance to keep the trucks on the road and in service.
” …there are different forms of service, but the same Lord;” 1 Corinthians 12:5
Time Commitment: flexible schedule