Volunteer

View our available volunteer opportunities to see where you can help.

Volunteers at the San Diego Rescue Mission are some of the warmest, kindest, most generous people we know.

Donate Your Time Our volunteers provide valuable services to our clients. In return they receive the satisfaction of knowing they are personally helping homeless and poor people create positive, lasting change in their lives.

Please note that we are unable at this time to work with court-mandated volunteers.

Due to insurance restrictions, volunteers must be age 16 and older. Are you part of a youth group under this age? We welcome your help with donation drives for urgently needed material items and are very happy to provide a tour of the Mission so you can find out more about our work.

Debbie Krakauer

To learn more about volunteering,
contact Debbie Krakauer at 619.819.1897 or dkrakauer@sdrescue.org

Group Projects

Here are more ideas for your group

groups (corporate, church, school and others) are always welcome to help with our meal service, assisting in the warehouse, and helping with special events. Please call 619.819.1897 for other ideas or to schedule a specific date.

Not able to start volunteering immediately? Host a Drive (Urgent Needs, Food, or Hygiene Kits): You can hold a drive and collect needed items at your school, church, place of employment, community center, or neighborhoods-it’s an easy and very significant way to support the Rescue Mission! Thank you for doing your part to help the men, women and children here at the Mission.

Volunteer Process for Individuals

All volunteers, with the exception of those participating in a special event or one-time group volunteer opportunity MUST submit an application and go through an on-line background check process at an $18 cost to the individual. View the application here. Volunteers will then be invited to attend an orientation. Orientations will be held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. All sessions are from 5:00-6:30PM and space MUST be reserved ahead of time. For non-food service opportunities we ask a 3-6 month commitment, interview, orientation, application and background check. Please call the Volunteer Coordinator to start the process.

Due to the large interest in our volunteer program, volunteer needs and opportunities change monthly and may include:

Development Intern
Assist the Development team in administrative and development tasks including: donor relations, data and research, gift acknowledgement, outreach and event planning. Click here for internship description.
Men’s Center
Volunteer opportunities are available to teach Anger Management, Genesis Process and Relapse Prevention Classes. Curriculum provided. Early AM or early evening times available.
Mentors for our Children – Mentor Monday
Mentor Mondays are set up so that volunteers are paired with a child and mentor one-two hours (their choice) every week. Six month commitment preferred. The children participating in the program currently are 5, 6, and 7. Pre-K also possible. Homework and other activities.
Haven of Hope - Clothing Closets
Individuals and/or small groups needed weekday/daytimes for sorting and putting away items.
Meal service - Haven of Hope and Transitional Housing
Breakfast 5:15 – 6:45AM weekdays

Dinner 3:45PM – 5:30PM
Nueva Vida Haven
- Assist women in our linen closet. Sunday evenings from 7:15-8:15PM
- Dinner service Wednesdays and Sundays 5:45PM – 7:00PM
- Computer Lab Volunteer
- NVH Client Advocate Intern – 6 month commitment/24 hour a week
Spiritual Care Department
Volunteers to work with our Spiritual Care Department and provide 1 to 1 discipleship to the men and women living here in year-long programs. Minimum 6 month commitment. Curriculum and training provided.
Thrift Store Volunteers
Selling new and gently used items to the community helps fund life – changing programs at San Diego Rescue Mission. Help us keep the stores in a welcoming, inviting state for customers!

We need help with the following:
- Helping customers shop
- Colorizing and Sizing all clothing racks
- Organizing items that get out of place
- Merchandising assistance
- Painting
- Creating and Printing signs for displays
- Carpet Cleaning – Window cleaning – Painting
Long term opportunities for individuals available and also one-time opportunities for groups. Volunteer hours available Monday – Saturdays 10AM – 5PM.
Volunteers needed in our City Heights Warehouse
We need people to assist us in any of the following activities:
- Pricing housewares, electronics & other misc. items from a pricing chart.
- Sorting and hanging clothing
- Furniture repair / refinishing / cleaning and sanitizing & teaching these skills to our clients
- Cleaning and Painting
- Landscaping – Fence repair
- Tree trimming
We are open for volunteers on Tuesdays and Thursdays any time from 8:30 am – 3:00 pm.
Great project for work teams / Schools / Churches / Businesses. Opportunities also available Thursdays in 3 hours shifts between 9:00AM – 2:00PM. Teen groups welcome with minimum age of 16 and one adult per five teens.