Click the image above to view our volunteers in action at McCreesh Place.

“It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.” – Irish Proverb

Homelessness happens to people when they are socially isolated, and the experience itself can be further isolating. Creating community connections for formerly homeless men can mean as little as offering a ride, or as much as offering to share a meal or celebrate birthdays and holidays together.

As a young organization, our community of volunteers is newly growing. We welcome individuals as well as groups from faith communities, schools, businesses and organizations to visit, volunteer and become a part of one the solutions to homelessness in Charlotte. Currently volunteers contribute to community at McCreesh Place in the following ways:

On-Call, Ongoing & Event Drivers
Often transportation is a barrier to participation in life. Carrying bags of groceries home by bus can be difficult, especially if walking strains you. Good visiting can happen when we’re on the road together. One volunteer takes a resident grocery shopping every week. Others drive as needed for last minute appointments. Event drivers help us make outings possible when tickets are donated. Drivers meet a HUGE need!

Host Groups for Birthday Celebrations
Every last Wednesday of the month, the Resident Association hosts its monthly house meeting and celebrates birthdays afterward. Groups anywhere from 5-15 come and help make the celebration festive, get to know residents, sponsor refreshments, and tour resident apartments. Kids are a welcome presence at festivities in any community! Groups are needed for each month of the year.

Holiday & Activity Hosts
From carol singing to ginger-bread house making, scarf-making to drumming, there’s no end to the possibilities for community activities around the holidays. The season that brings smiles to most can be harder to weather when you feel alone. Individuals and groups can make someone’s holidays, or any day a holiday, with a simple activity. We have ideas if you have hearts to host them!

Saturday Hot Dogs & Cooking Clubs
Meals make a community! On Saturdays, a handful of volunteers bring hot dogs to our picnic tables for anyone who’s around. One evening a month, a small group of volunteers gathers with a small group of guys to share the set up, meal prep, cooking and clean up in one of the resident kitchens. Two or more volunteers can form a cooking club, whether potluck or cooking together, on any other day or night of the month.

Building Projects
Each summer, youth groups participating in CROSS teams come and learn about homelessness while helping the community with needed building and grounds projects: painting, cleaning, yardwork. Individuals and groups are welcome for landscaping and maintenance projects as well as ongoing needs. 

Front Desk Volunteers
For a safe and friendly community, there are resident, former resident and community volunteers who help at the front desk to greet visitors and residents when they come through the door. Shifts are 8-12, 12-4, 4-6 and 6-8. Calling all smiling faces!