Volunteer FAQ

What volunteer opportunities are available?

  • Kitchen Shifts every day of the year (approx. 6am – 9am; 11am – 2pm & 3pm – 6pm)
  • Litter Pick up
  • Women’s Shelter Assistant
  • Landscaping (times vary)
  • Donation Center sorting
  • Retail at the Mission Thrift

We also use volunteers for special events such as:  Back to School Shopping; Christmas Shopping; Easter Egg Hunts; Admin work; Thanksgiving & Christmas meal prep, Birthday Parties, Haircutting events, Vision & Dental clinics, etc.

Do I need to have experience in order to volunteer?

No experience needed for the above opportunities. 

How do I get started?

All volunteers are required to have a volunteer account and pass a background check.  Create your account here:  https://rescue-mission.volunteerhub.com

What is the minimum age to volunteer?

Volunteers must be at least 8 years old to volunteer. 8-13 year old children must have an adult volunteer with them. All volunteers, regardless of age, must have an approved volunteer account and everyone under 18 must have a completed Youth Waiver on file before volunteering. Some of the locations require the volunteer to be 18 for safety reasons (Donation Center, Litter Pick Up)

What if I want to volunteer directly with clients?

Consider becoming a “High Impact Volunteer”.  These volunteer positions require an interview and a 6 month (minimum) commitment and include things such as:  Mentoring clients; assisting Case Workers; Tutoring Youth or Adults; Search & Rescue, assisting front desk staff, etc  Take a look at what we currently are looking for and fill out the application here:  https://www.trm.org/highimpact

I have a group that would like to volunteer together, can we?

Yes! The ideal group size is 4-8 If you have a larger group, you can either break into smaller groups to serve or volunteer outside doing landscaping/yard work/litter pick up.  To get started, fill out the Group Volunteer Form here: https://www.trm.org/group-volunteer-opportunities/

I created a volunteer account… now what?

Keep an eye on your inbox for an email from “Volunteer Manager at Volunteer Hub” letting you know that your account has been approved and activated.  Check your junk/spam folder too.  If you don’t receive an email within 5 business days, let us know at volunteer@trm.org

Once your account has been approved, log onto your volunteer account and you’ll see a calendar of all the available volunteer shifts. Sign up for this shift(s) that fit your schedule and interests.

I have (or my group has) a special talent/skill that I’d like to share. How do I get started?

Send us an email! volunteer@trm.org

What happens on my first day of volunteering?

Check your email for address and direction details.  When you arrive, please check in at the kiosk.  Staff will greet you and get you started.

Where can I park when I volunteer?

You can park in any open (unreserved) parking spot on campus.  We encourage carpooling as there are sometimes very few available spots.

What should I wear when volunteering? 

Please wear casual clothes; keeping in mind that they may get a little dirty. 

Closed toed shoes and long pants are required.  We provide hairnets, gloves, and aprons for those volunteering in the kitchen.  You may choose to bring your own hat if you’d rather not wear a hair net.

Can I just show up for a volunteer shift without signing up for one first? 

No. Please sign up on Volunteer Hub first as that lets our staff know how many volunteers to expect and assures that we don’t have too many volunteers at one time.

The shift times do not work for me, can I just come whenever? 

No. Our volunteer shifts are pre-determined, scheduled times that best fit the needs of our programs. These are set times and we ask that all volunteers adhere to the start and end shift times and volunteer shift duration. 

What if I can’t come in for my shift?

Log on to your volunteer account and cancel your shift so our staff knows who to expect.

I am a former Tacoma Rescue Mission Volunteer and I would like to start volunteering again. 

That’s wonderful! Check to see if you can log on to your volunteer account here: https://rescue-mission.volunteerhub.com/  If you do not have an account, please create one.  If you have an account, but can’t log onto it, send us an email at volunteer@trm.org and we’ll get it figured out for you.

Can I complete my Court-Ordered Community Service hours with the Tacoma Rescue Mission?

Yes.  More info here: https://www.trm.org/communityservice/

What happens if there is a problem while I volunteer?

If you need support at any point during your volunteer shift, please immediately inform a Tacoma Rescue Mission staff. .

I’m sick. Should I still volunteer?

If you are not feeling well for any reason, please cancel your shift and do not come in for your volunteer shift.

Do you keep a record of my volunteer hours?

Yes.  Volunteers are required to check-in at a kiosk at the start of each shift. The total amount of your volunteer hours can be found on your volunteer account under “View Hours”

Can I promote Tacoma Rescue Mission to my friends on social media?

Yes please!

Remember to never include clients in the photo. Make sure they are not in the background. Only photos of you, Tacoma Rescue Mission staff, and volunteers (providing they are OK with that!) are allowed.