Volunteer
Connect with House of Mercy!
House of Mercy runs around the clock thanks to the help of our tireless volunteers that never give up. Submit an application and the Volunteer Coordinator will contact you to set up a time for orientation. After orientation, you may sign up for any of the following positions to volunteer. You may sign up online or in person.
For more information or questions, email volunteer@houseofmercyrochester.org, or call (585) 546-2580, ext. 103.
Already a Volunteer?
Volunteer Opportunities
Front Desk
Answer phones, give out clothes, hygiene kits, and help guests. Volunteers are needed around the clock, including overnight.
Kitchen & Food Pantry
Our Kitchen provides 3 hot meals daily for all shelter guests and our Food Pantry is open to those in need in our community. Our Kitchen Volunteer shifts run daily at the following times; 8:00am-10:00am, 10:00am-1:00pm, & 3:00pm-6:00pm.
Cleaning
We constantly need help cleaning in our offices and in the shelter. Large groups and individuals needed.
Office & Administrative
Individuals and groups on an as needed basis can help organize files, input data, and send mailings.
Experienced Individuals
We could always use experienced individuals or groups to help us with shelter security, grant writing, health services, and social work.
Shelter Activities
We need individuals and groups to offer their expertise and interests with our residents. It could be crafting, playing music, educational, or playing games. Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator with any ideas you have.
Volunteer FAQ
We rely on individuals and groups to volunteer. You must be at least 16 years old to volunteer. Youth under the age of 18 must have a parent signature and an adult present to volunteer.
There is street parking on both sides of the street at our main location on 285 Ormond Street. We have two small parking lots on either side of the building where you are welcome to park. However, if these are full, street parking is always available.
First, fill out an application so we know what your availability and interest is. Once you have filled out the application or expressed interest, you will schedule a time for orientation. Orientation takes place by appointment. Once you have received an orientation, you will be put on the schedule to volunteer in your area of interest. Orientation is about a half hour long.
The time commitment for volunteers varies on what job the volunteer is assigned to and their interest in frequency. Volunteers can be on a daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly schedule depending on availability and interest.
Wear closed toed shoes and comfortable clothes. Some of our volunteer opportunities involve standing for long periods of time, lifting, and cleaning. It is a good idea to wear clothing you do not mind getting dirty.
Please do not bring anything valuable. House of Mercy is not responsible for anything lost or stolen. It is a good idea to not bring in anything you cannot keep with you on hand. We do not have a place for volunteers to store their items.
We rely heavily on volunteers to keep things running smoothly day to day. Our greatest need for volunteers changes frequently as availability and scheduling is always changing. Consistently, our greatest need is funding to keep House of Mercy running. When considering volunteering, please look through the volunteer page and our donation page on our website for more information on how to give both your time and treasure.
You can contact the Volunteer Coordinator Office at volunteer@houseofmercyrochester.org or call 585-546-2580 x103.