Volunteering at Hands On Hartford

Volunteers are the heart of Hands On Hartford. Whether you're an individual or part of a group, your time and energy help us provide critical services to those in need. Explore the many ways you can contribute and make a lasting impact in our community.

Group Volunteer Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Hands On Hartford!

We have paused our group volunteer opportunities until further notice.

Please check back here in November 2026 for any updates.

Thank you!

Individual Volunteer Opportunities

We are accepting new individual volunteer/community service applications starting October 8 and will continue accepting applications until we have reached capacity.

Once capacity has been reached, enrollment will be paused until further notice.

Individual Volunteer Shift Descriptions:

We have open volunteer positions in our Gather55 restaurant: serving complimentary refreshments, plating food, bringing food to tables, greeting guests, and/or dishwashing.  No experience is necessary!  Please note: a few of these positions require working with the public.

 

We also have open volunteer positions in our Community Pantry: assisting our participants with shopping, stocking shelves and/or helping with our deliveries.  No experience is necessary!  Please note: most positions require working with the public and being able to lift at least a case of cans. 

 

Before applying, please note:

 

  1. All applications are subject to a soft background check (this will not affect your credit score).
  2. We are seeking volunteers who can commit to at least one 3-hour shift, during daytime weekday hours, once or more per week.  Please do not apply if you are unable to commit to one shift per week.
  3. At this time, if you are applying for Community Service (whether court-ordered, for school, or for your employer), you may complete a minimum of 42 hours and maximum of 84 hours at Hands On Hartford.  If your requirement is less than 42 hours, please be aware that we may be unable to accommodate your request.  Additional hours may be offered to you depending upon current needs.  Most community service hours can be completed within 3-7 months if volunteering at least once per week.
  4. We do not typically offer evening and weekend volunteer opportunities.  
  5. Most opportunities are for adults 18+.  We have very limited youth volunteer options available.
  6. To be eligible to volunteer this fall, you must be available to complete a full 4 hour Volunteer Orientation & Training (includes a 30 minute break for lunch) on one of the following days:

 

Tuesday, October 13 from 9:30am-1:30pm – for Gather55 volunteers only

Thursday, October 15 from 10am-2:00pm  - for pantry volunteers only

Wednesday, October 28th from 10am-2:00pm – for pantry volunteers only

Thursday, November 5 from 9:30am-1:30pm – for Gather55 volunteers only

  1. A staff member will be in contact with you within 5 business days of applying.  We ask that you please do not contact us regarding the status of your application.

 

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Hands On Hartford!

 

Please apply by clicking “Create Account” below

Create Account
Additional Ways to Support Our Mission

Add to Your Experience

Are you looking for a unique way to engage your classroom, community, or professional staff?

Hands On Hartford welcomes the community to share in a powerful and interactive educational experience offered by our Faces of Homelessness Speakers Bureau. We are flexible with the format of events and strive to create a learning experience that is effective and beneficial for everyone involved.

Faces of Homelessness Event Request