Get Involved

We have opportunities for you or your group to volunteer with us and truly make a difference in our community.

Volunteer With Us

At Friends Association, we believe that we build unity with our families through collective care and community impact. Our dedicated volunteers are crucial to the success of Friends Association, and many serve in key roles within the organization. If you are interested in learning how to become a volunteer at Friends Association, please use the link below to fill out our volunteer interest form or email Karina Olmeda at k.olmeda@friendsassoc.org.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

MEALS FOR FAMILIES

Share your love of cooking by bringing a home-cooked meal to families in our community. Whether it’s by welcoming new residents to our Family Center with a meal through our Meal Train or surprising a family with a meal through our Weekly Meal Program, there are many opportunities to volunteer through the gift of a meal.

PREPARING OUR SPACES

A lot of work goes into making sure our spaces are ready for families experiencing homelessness. Our Turnover Team helps us get apartments ready for new families at the Family Center – helping with deep cleaning, stocking the kitchen and bathroom, and setting up bedrooms. Our Maintenance Crew helps us maintain the indoor/outdoor spaces at the Friends Office and Family Center. Volunteers assist with weeding, planting, debris cleanup, painting, and more.

GENERAL AND CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES

We have General Opportunities available for volunteers who would like to be made aware of volunteer opportunities that arise at Friends Association outside of what is listed above. Are you a Corporate Partner interested in learning more about how to get your group involved? Reach out and we can get your group volunteering with us!

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” – Elizabeth Andrew

Interested in Volunteering with Friends Association? Please fill out the Volunteer Interest Form by clicking the button below. A staff member will contact you shortly to discuss volunteer opportunities. Thank you for your interest!

VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM

Welcome Home Program

At Friends Association, success for our families means long-term stable housing. We are here to give our families the space and resources they need to get there and empower them along the way. Together we are helping Chester County families experiencing homelessness find hope and healing but first….it starts with a home.

Help us welcome our families into their new homes by providing essential housewarming items. You can assist our families in one of the following ways:

Welcome Home Donations

Click to make a $250 donation that will help us provide essential items to our families transitioning to long-term housing. Examples of items could be towels and sheets, laundry baskets, pots and pans, and other items that will help turn their new house into a home.

Wish List

You may purchase items directly from a family’s personalized wish list. Our volunteer coordinator can work with you to help a family receive exactly what they need. Click here to email us now.

Gift Cards

Donations of gift cards are given to families for them to purchase items they need for their new homes. Preferred stores include Amazon and Walmart. Gift cards can be mailed or dropped off at our office (see address below) with a note that it is for our Welcome Home Program.

In-Kind Donations

Thank you for considering an in-kind donation! Without donors like you, we couldn’t carry out our mission as effectively or broadly. Your support allows us to serve families and fulfill their immediate and ongoing needs. Most families that we assist are starting completely fresh. We combine many resources to set them up comfortably in their new homes. We appreciate donations from our community and also find it effective to rely on partner agencies throughout Chester County.

We accept donations at our office during business hours and can only accept items listed below. Contact us with questions and please do not leave donations on our porch unless arrangements have been made to do so.

ITEMS WE ACCEPT:

Paper Products — Paper towels, Toilet Paper, Tissues, Feminine Hygiene Products, Baby Diapers (most needed sizes: 4, 5 & 6) & Wipes

Cleaning Supplies — Lysol Multi-Surface, Windex Anti-bacterial, Kitchen Sponges, Dishwashing Liquid, Hand Soap, Pop-Up Laundry Hampers, Laundry Detergent & Dryer Sheets, Mops & Brooms, Large Trash Bags, Dust Pans, Toilet Bowl Cleaner & Brushes, Plungers, Disinfecting Wipes

Kitchen Items (All New Please) — Trash Cans with Lids, Dish Sets, Cups and Glassware Sets, Pots/Pans, Utensil Sets, Cooking Utensils, Dish Towels, Pot Holders, Can Openers, Small Appliances

Bedroom Items (All New Please) — Twin & Full Sized Sheet Sets, Twin & Full Sized Blankets & Comforters, Pillows & Pillowcases, Toddler Bedding Sets, Mattress Covers

Bathroom Items (All New Please) — Bath Towels, Hand Towels, Washcloths, Shower Curtains & Rings, Bath Mats

PARTNERS WE WORK WITH FOR ALL OTHER DONATIONS:

Clothing Donations — We partner with Wings for Success for all clothing donations. Please contact them directly for donation information.

Furniture Donations — We partner with the Community Warehouse Project in West Chester for all of our furniture needs. Please contact them directly to inquire about your furniture donation.

Cribs, Car Seats & Children’s Toys, Clothing & Books — Many organizations cannot accept used cribs and car seats for safety reasons. For most children’s items, we partner with Maternal Child Health Consortium. Please contact them directly to inquire about children’s items.

Food — We partner with the West Chester Food Cupboard for all food donations. Please contact them directly for more information.

Press

We publish a variety of news stories and press releases to keep you informed about Friends Association activities, from the ways we deliver our mission, to the impact of our work on everyday lives. Read the latest here.