Join The Union Mission’s family of volunteers!
We love our volunteers! The Union Mission offers a variety of ways you can support the work of our ministry and those we serve. You or your group might want to
- sponsor meals for our shelter guests or cater a special lunch or dinner
- help spruce up the Camp Hope Haven cabins and buildings before summer
- host a collection drive for our most-needed items or gift cards to support the needs of our homeless shelters
- assist with sorting donations in our Warehouse or restocking in our Thrift Store
- buddy up with a special-needs kid during Hope Haven’s monthly Recharge Respite Care
Please note that our volunteer program cannot accommodate court-ordered community service requests.
Age Requirements
All volunteers on The Union Mission or Hope Haven must be 12 years of age or older. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.
The minimum age for Kitchen/Food Service and Thrift Store/Warehouse volunteers is 15 and all minors must be accompanied by an adult. Questions concerning services opportunities for minors can be directed to the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator at volunteer@ummnorva.org.
Seasonal Opportunities
OUR LADIES AUXILIARY members, many of them retirees, participate in special monthly ministry projects from September through May. Because of COVID, the group has been meeting virtually or in small groups to accomplish off-site projects. Membership in the Ladies Auxiliary is free and open to new women of all ages throughout each season. Click here to request more information on Ladies Auxiliary.
CAMP HOPE HAVEN is our weeklong, overnight summer camp for children ages 8 to 15. Volunteers serve in a variety of capacities, indoors and out, between May–August at Hope Haven, 3000 North Landing Road in Virginia Beach.
Eagle Scout / Youth Group Projects
OFF-SITE COLLECTION DRIVES are an excellent service opportunity that really help the Mission. You can provide Home Totes for shelter guests moving into permanent housing, plan a fundraiser to underwrite shelter meals; collect or order new items that our shelter guests always need; prepare bag breakfasts; assemble gift bags for homeless shelter guests at Christmas—or suggest your own idea to our Volunteer Engagement Coordinator.
