At Home Sweet Home, volunteers are the heartbeat of everything we do. We couldn’t furnish hope for local families without the time, energy, and compassion of our incredible volunteer community.
Whether you’re looking to volunteer regularly or come in for a one-time group experience, we have plenty of opportunities to get involved.
INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERING
We’re proud to have a community of over 150 regular volunteers who help keep our mission moving every week. Whether you come in once a week or once a month, we’d love to have you join our team.
There’s something for everyone — from working directly with clients to organizing donations or lending a special skill behind the scenes. No matter your experience, you’ll be part of creating welcoming homes for families in need.
VOLUNTEER ROLES
Personal Shopper
Personal Shopper Assistants play a key front-facing role by working directly with the families we serve. During shifts, volunteers either guide clients through our warehouse to select furniture and home essentials or shop on their behalf using a detailed preference sheet. Personal Shopper Assistants also help pack up items and prepare them for delivery. It’s a rewarding way to support families with care, dignity, and a personal touch. Strong customer service, patience, and empathy are key in this role.
When:
- Monday through Friday
- 9 AM – 12 PM
- 12 PM – 3 PM
-
Please note: No volunteer shifts are scheduled on the first Thursday of each month (staff day).
Who:
-
Volunteers must be 18+
How:
- Attend a general Home Sweet Home orientation
- Complete at least five Warehouse Volunteer shifts
- Attend a Personal Shopper Assistant training session
- Shadow an experienced Personal Shopper Assistant for several shifts before signing up on your own
Email volunteer@homesweethomestl.org to learn more!
Warehouse Assistant
Warehouse Assistants play a vital role in keeping our space clean, organized, and stocked with quality items for the families we serve. Volunteers inspect and clean incoming donations, make sure items meet our quality standards, and help stock and tidy the warehouse as needed. This essential back-of-house role ensures families have a welcoming, dignified space to shop in when they arrive for their appointments.
When:
- Monday through Friday
- 9 AM – 12 PM
- 12 PM – 3 PM
- First Saturday of the month
- 9 AM – 12 PM
-
Please note: No volunteer shifts are scheduled on the first Thursday of each month (staff day).
Who:
-
Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
How:
-
Attend a general Home Sweet Home orientation before signing up for your first shift
Email volunteer@homesweethomestl.org to learn more!
Receptionist
Receptionist Volunteers are the friendly face and voice of Home Sweet Home. Stationed at our front desk, they greet clients when they arrive, answer phone calls, and direct visitors or inquiries to the right person. They also handle common questions, take messages, and support basic administrative tasks like printing, filing, data entry, and mailings.
If you’re organized, welcoming, and enjoy keeping things running smoothly, this role is a great fit!
When:
- Monday through Friday
- 9 AM – 12 PM
- 12 PM – 2 PM
Who:
-
Volunteers must be 18+
How:
- Attend a general Home Sweet Home orientation
- Shadow an experienced Receptionist Volunteer for at least one shift before signing up on your own
Email volunteer@homesweethomestl.org to learn more!
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant Volunteers provide crucial behind-the-scenes support to help Home Sweet Home run smoothly. Tasks may include data entry, filing, preparing mailings, organizing paperwork, making copies, printing materials, and assisting staff with various administrative projects. This role is perfect for detail-oriented volunteers who enjoy office work and want to make a meaningful impact in a supportive, mission-driven environment.
When:
- Monday through Friday
- 9 AM – 12 PM
- 12 PM – 3 PM
-
Please note: No volunteer shifts are scheduled on the first Thursday of each month (staff day).
Who:
-
Volunteers must be 18+
How:
- Attend a general Home Sweet Home orientation
- Shadow an experienced Administrative Assistant or staff member for at least one shift before signing up on your own
Email volunteer@homesweethomestl.org to learn more!
Special Skills
Special Skills Volunteers use their unique talents to support Home Sweet Home in creative and impactful ways. We’re always looking for individuals with experience in areas such as:
- Photography and videography
- Event planning and logistics
- Carpentry, woodworking, or furniture repair
- Professional organizing
- IT or database support
- Social media and digital marketing
- Writing and storytelling
- Graphic design
Whether you want to help capture our mission through photos, design eye-catching materials, lend a hand at events, or offer technical expertise, there are plenty of ways to make a difference.
When:
-
Flexible scheduling, depending on the project and your availability
Who:
-
Volunteers must be 18+
How:
- Attend a general Home Sweet Home orientation
- Complete several Warehouse Volunteer shifts to get familiar with our mission and operations
- Work with staff to identify projects that match your skills and our needs
Email volunteer@homesweethomestl.org to learn more!
VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION
We host volunteer orientations once a month to give new volunteers a deeper look into what we do and why it matters. During this session, you’ll learn about Home Sweet Home’s mission, who we serve, and how racism and redlining in St. Louis have shaped the housing challenges many families face today. You’ll also get a guided tour of our warehouse and see firsthand how your time and effort make an impact.
INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER SIGN UP FORM
GROUP VOLUNTEERING
Looking for a meaningful team-building experience? Home Sweet Home offers group volunteer opportunities perfect for corporate teams, faith groups, schools, families, and community organizations.
We currently offer two main group volunteer activities: Furniture Builds and Warehouse Volunteering. Both are great ways to connect, make a tangible impact, and have a great time while doing it!
FURNITURE BUILD
One of the most impactful and fun ways to make a difference is by building furniture for under-served families. Kids’ dressers are one of our most requested items.
Here’s how it works: we order the dressers, your group covers the cost (essentially donating the dressers along with your time), and then you build them either at our warehouse or offsite, with pickup available when they’re ready!
It’s a great group bonding activity that directly helps kids across St. Louis feel safe and comfortable, giving them a special place to store their belongings and a greater sense of stability at home.
Group size: up to 60 people
WAREHOUSE VOLUNTEERING
Help our warehouse team make the magic happen behind the scenes! Group volunteers assist with sorting and organizing incoming donations, cleaning and testing items, and restocking the warehouse floor for clients to choose from.
There’s always something to do, and we’re always in need of extra hands to keep things running smoothly. This opportunity is perfect for families or small groups who want to make a hands-on difference.
Group size: up to 5 people
GROUP VOLUNTEER SIGN UP FORM
QUESTIONS?
Reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator, Alexis Myers, at volunteer@homesweethomestl.org for more volunteer information.