VOLUNTEER
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Star House! Star House is open 24/7, 365 days per year and needs dedicated volunteers throughout the day, every day. Please review our volunteer opportunities below to see which opportunity may work best for you or your group!
Volunteer
Need
Star House's Annual Ohio State University Tailgate
Join Star House on September 7 and November 23 for our annual Ohio State University football tailgates, where we're raising funds for crucial resources for youth experiencing homelessness. We're looking for volunteers (19 or older) to help check IDs, sell beverage tickets, and serve drinks. Register here!
For additional information, please contact aconlon@starhouse.us
Volunteer Behind the Scenes
Sort Donations in our Warehouse: Volunteers working in our warehouse help by processing donated items, packaging food items and assisting with other organizational tasks. Volunteers working in the warehouse must be at least 16 years of age. Those ages 16 or 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For groups consisting of 5 or more individuals, please email aconlon@starhouse.us to schedule a large group session.
To sort donations in our warehouse, please register here.
Pick-Up and Drop-Off Donations: Star House is in need of weekly volunteers to pick-up and drop-off donations, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteers must be 16 years of age and posses a valid driver's license.
To assist with donation pick-ups and drop-offs, please register here.
Maintenance Volunteers: Star House is in need of volunteers, aged 18 or older, to assist with light maintenance work including painting, minor fixes, floor work and more. This opportunity is available Monday through Friday on an as-needed basis.
To assist with maintenance tasks, please register here.
Work Directly with Youth
Direct engagement is the opportunity to work directly with youth, aged 14-24, experiencing homelessness in Central Ohio. Direct engagement volunteers are needed throughout the day, every day, and are positive reinforcements for Star House guests and staff. Volunteers lead by example to teach youth how to establish meaningful relationships with boundaries that are healthy, safe, and consistent.
Direct engagement volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, successfully pass a required background check, attend a trauma-informed care training and attend a volunteer orientation. This opportunity requires a monthly commitment as stability is key for the development of meaningful relationships with youth. With direct engagement shifts available 24/7, 365 days per year, this position can accommodate each volunteer's specific scheduling needs.
Some examples of direct engagement activities are below:
Socialize with Star House Youth
Volunteers have an opportunity to introduce themselves to youth, interact with them, check in with them, sit and talk (but more often listen) and serve as a welcoming presence for youth.
Host an Activity
Volunteers are encouraged to host activities in community spaces, including our kitchen, art room, or gym. In the kitchen, you can guide youth as they prepare meals, teach them new recipes, or assist in preparing a meal for the youth at Star House. The art room offers opportunities for creative engagement, such as board or card games, adult coloring books, painting, and poetry or creative writing sessions. Additionally, the gym is available for volunteers to host activities such as yoga or basketball, providing a space for active and healthy recreation.
Open Star House's Food Pantry at Carol Stewart Village
Star House opened a food pantry for residents at Carol Stewart Village, a transitional housing community for young adults with on-site programs and services that we operate along with Finance Fund and the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority. We are looking for volunteers to help residents sign-in to the food pantry, pick out grocery items and check-out. This opportunity is only available Friday from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Restock and Clean Common Areas
Volunteers can assist with cleaning and restocking our laundry room, food pantries, refrigerators, freezers and kitchen area.
Share your Expertise
If you have a specific background or skillset that you would like to offer as an activity for youth, please contact aconlon@starhouse.us.