Project Host would not be able to provide services to the community without the support of hundreds of volunteers each year. Our Soup Kitchen and Gardening for Good programs run on people who donate their time and talents to our organization. If you are interested in volunteering as an individual or group, please follow the appropriate links below to learn more about how to get involved with Project Host.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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There are many ways to help Project Host. In our Soup Kitchen, volunteers prep and cook foods, serve, clean, and help put away donations and organize our pantries. We also need help weeding, harvesting, and tending our garden, and we often need support for special projects and special events.
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Individuals interested in volunteering in the Soup Kitchen can sign up for available slots on weekdays or Sundays by following the respective links. Prospective garden volunteers should email info@projecthost.org with interest. Groups should learn more about group volunteering here.
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OSHA requires that all individuals working in kitchens are at least 15 years of age. We require that anyone 15 or above but under 18 be accompanied by an adult chaperone.
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No. We require all Soup Kitchen volunteers to stay the full shift from 9AM-1PM. Please look into volunteering in the garden or at a special event if the 9AM-1PM timeframe does not suit your schedule.
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Sign-ups are on a first come, first served basis. We ask that you please look for another day that suits your schedule, as we will not take volunteers beyond the allocated slots.
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Please wear close-toed shoes and comfortable clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty.
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Please come to the volunteer entrance located on the Academy-facing side of the building closest to McCall Street and knock on the door. Someone will let you in and then please report to the Soup Kitchen Manager on duty if it is your first time volunteering.
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If you wish to fulfill court-ordered community service at Project Host, please call to speak to someone on staff in order to schedule your volunteer hours and notify us of the terms of your service.
Sign Up to Volunteer
To volunteer in the Project Host Soup Kitchen (shifts are 9AM-1PM, Sunday-Friday), please look for available dates and register following the weekday and Sunday links below. Garden volunteers are needed Monday-Friday. Please email info@projecthost.org if you are interested in helping in the garden.
Please view our short orientation video and review our FAQs. Call 864-235-3403 with any additional questions.
Group Volunteer Opportunities
Project Host loves welcoming groups to volunteer and bond with each other while working in service to the community. There are many opportunities to work across our programs in support of our mission. We ask that groups contact Project Host at least three weeks prior to the desired volunteer date, and we also ask that groups be flexible about how they support Project Host. Our Soup Kitchen is staffed with many regular volunteers who dedicate their time on a weekly basis, so while we do our best to get as many people as possible in the Soup Kitchen to cook and serve our guests, we may ask groups to support us in other ways as well while they are here. We are committed to finding meaningful work for all volunteers that furthers the goals and interests of Project Host.
If you would like to register a group, please send an email to info@projecthost.org that includes the number of people you wish to bring, the age of volunteers if under 18 (see more information on youth engagement below), and the desired date(s) or date range.
Child and Youth Engagement
Project Host understands the importance of engaging children and youth in service activities and offers opportunities for families and youth groups to engage with our mission. Volunteers must be chaperoned if under 18 and are required to be at least 15 years of age to work in a kitchen, so there are limitations to the type of work that young people can perform at Project Host. In the summer there are occasional opportunities for youth to support our bagged lunch outreach efforts, as well as to help harvest in the garden and clean our lot. Other offsite ways that children and youth can engage is by assembling hygiene kits for our guests, organizing a food or fund drive for our Soup Kitchen, or preparing treat bags or friendly notes for our guests (please contact Project Host to ask for current needs). Please note that due to the somewhat limited range of projects we can assign young people to, we cannot accommodate youth group consisting of more than 10 youth or host youth groups for longer than two hours.