Partners in Doing the Most Good

Volunteer Opportunities!

When you join our team of volunteers, you’re helping us build communities where lives are changed, and hope is found. Volunteers are one of our strongest resources in meeting the needs of the Midlands.

If you see an opportunity that interests you, please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Shannon Chapman at (803) 309-3244, email her at shannon.chapman@uss.salvationarmy.org or fill out the form below.

*Volunteers must be 18 years and up unless otherwise noted.

Urgently needed:
Rapid Shelter Columbia OVERFLOW (November 1 - March 31)

We need on-call volunteers to assist serving breakfast and supper to the homeless at the Rapid Shelter Columbia OVERFLOW (formerly the Inclement Weather Center). The OVERFLOW is scheduled to open on November 1, depending on the weather. (Temperatures at 40 degrees and below)

Serving Times:
Breakfast (volunteers should arrive at 6:00 am)
   - Service begins at 6:15 am until 6:45 am
   - 2 volunteers are needed for each shift

Supper (volunteers should arrive at 6:00 pm)
   - Service begins at 6:15 pm until 7:45 pm
   - 3 volunteers are needed for each shift

**  Rapid Shelter – Overflow volunteers will be provided an overview training and be requested to attend a “Trauma Informed” training in October 2024.  This training will provide insight into past/current trauma that has an impact on how a person experiencing homelessness lives their life and engages with service providers.                                                                                                                                      

Year-round volunteer opportunities 

Family Thrift Store: Help turn donations into program funding! Sort and organize items in our store.

The income generated from the Family Thrift Store helps to fund most of our programs all year long. By volunteering at the Thrift Store, you would be making a lasting impact in our community.

Great Group Activity!
Milwood Store Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 9am-5pm
Ballentine Store Hours: Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm

Kitchen Helper: Transitions Homeless Shelter on Elmwood Avenue. Help serve meals to those who are homeless and in need 7 days a week.
6:30am-7:30am – Breakfast
11:30am-12:45pm – Lunch
5:00pm-6:15pm - Dinner

Food Pantry: Salvation Army of the Midlands-3024 Farrow Rd, Cola, 29203.
Sort, arrange and place donated food items in designated areas in the food pantry. Sort and bag various food items to be picked up and/or distributed to those in our community.
9:00am-4:00pm – Monday-Friday

After School Reading Program: Salvation Army of the Midlands-3024 Farrow Road, Cola, 29203.
Assist teacher in our Leveraging Literacy after school reading program. This program is offered to students, at no cost, in grades 1-5 who have fallen behind in their reading skills.
(Days and times vary-Contact our Volunteer Coordinator for additional Information)

Emergency Disaster Services: During these times, The Salvation Army provides, hot meals, snacks, drinks, and spiritual & emotional support to disaster survivors and emergency first responders.
(In preparation for volunteering during a time of need, you will need to participate in emergency disaster services training and disaster drills-click button below to learn more)
STEPS IN BECOMING A CREDENTIALED DISASTER VOLUNTEER

Host a collection drive at your church, business, or school:

Food Drive: Help The Salvation Army provide emergency food for individuals and families in need by collecting non-perishable food, baby food, paper products (i.e. toilet paper, paper towels), diapers, etc.

Family Thrift Store Drive: Assist The Salvation Army with funding our Social Service programs by collecting gently used clothing and household items to be sold in our family thrift stores.

School Supply Drive: Assist with supplying kids grades 1-5 in our community with necessary supplies needed during the school year by hosting a “School Supply” drive.
 

Christmas Opportunities (November/December):

Assist The Salvation Army in making Christmas morning brighter for children in need in our community by:

Stocking Stuffer: Individuals or groups can reserve Christmas stockings to be stuffed with various toys and/or other needed items as deemed appropriate based on the age of the children.
(TSA will provide the stockings and suggested stuffing items based on the ages of the children)

Adopt an Angel: Each Angel represents a specific child who lives in poverty in our community that would not have presents to open on Christmas day if it weren’t for programs such as this.

The card for each Angel lists the child’s name, gender, sizes and “gift wish” items.

How to Adopt an Angel

• Pick up at TSA - 3024 Farrow Rd, Columbia, SC, 29203
• Pick up at pre-designated businesses or organizations
• Online adoption at TSA of the Midlands website
• Arrange delivery of adopted Angel (s)

Red Kettle Bell Ringer: Be a part of The Salvation Army’s largest, and most festive fundraiser of the year!
Volunteer as an individual, with a business, church, service club, school, or other group to ring the bell at various locations throughout the Midlands and surrounding communities.

Stuff-A-Bus: Through partnering with WLTX TV over many, many years, this campaign has become the largest one of the seasons for collecting toys and bikes- toys and bikes that contribute to the thousands of Angels to be adopted at Christmas time!
There are multiple locations where the buses will be located to collect toys on two, designated Saturdays in early December.

Christmas Warehouse Volunteer: From the combination of programs and efforts, the Christmas warehouse is where all the stockings, toys, bikes and other gifts are located the families in each holiday season.
Assist at TSA’s Christmas Warehouse, where you will sort gifts, assemble gift bags and/or distribute gifts in preparation for distribution.

If you see an opportunity that interests you, please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Shannon Chapman at (803) 309-3244, email her at shannon.chapman@uss.salvationarmy.org, or fill out the form below.