Get Involved
VOLUNTEERS make our work possible! Find your place at Paul’s Place
Last year, 5,000 volunteers gave more than 69,000 hours! And we could not have done it without them.
Single person volunteers
Are you an individual interested in volunteering?Per Volunteer Opportunity
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Serve a meal
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Organize and sort clothing
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Assist guests with shopping
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Help with career preparedness
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Mentor a young student
Groups of more than 3 people
Are you a school, religious or corporate group?Per Volunteer Opportunity
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Serve a meal
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Organize and sort clothing
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Assist guests with shopping
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you need to be a volunteer at Paul's Place? Kindness and respect.
Volunteers contribute a great deal to daily operations of Paul’s Place. Paul’s Place thoroughly appreciates and values the time and resources volunteers donate. To ensure an enjoyable and productive experience, Paul’s Place suggests all volunteers adhere to a few guidelines. Please always remember to:
Show dignity and respect to all of our guests.
Be cognizant of cultural differences (and look for similarities).
Do not judge, make assumptions or generalizations (You never know the stories of our guests).
Ask questions if you are confused, unsure, or curious about any situations you encounter.
Please BRING a Volunteer Waiver (if it’s your first time, or complete one on the Volunteer Hub when you register). Bring a smile, as well as a friendly and open attitude!
You may bring your cell phone, but we are a cell-phone free zone! So, If you need it for emergencies, you may keep it and use it discreetly. Otherwise, please lock it in the closet or turn it off in your pocket.
There is on-street parking on Cross, Ward, and Ostend streets. Pay attention to parking restriction signs and ask us if you aren’t sure about where you parked.
Close-toed shoes are required and casual clothes are recommended. Do not wear short shorts, or clothes that show your stomach or undergarments. Short- or long sleeves are preferred for food service (rather than sleeveless).
YES! Our volunteers are safe and we do all we can to ensure that! We are located in a city neighborhood so simply be mindful of your surroundings.
Here are some things to consider as you come to volunteer:
Do NOT leave items visible in your car. Do lock your car.
Do not use your phone or headphones as you are walking down the street. Be aware of your surroundings.
If our neighbors greet you, please greet them back! We treat all with dignity and respect and that can start from the minute you are on our street.
If someone approaches you for money, kindly turn them down and invite them to come into Paul’s Place to ask for help. We have LOTS of programs to help them!
If you see something questionable happen on the street, tell the staff when you come in and we’ll be glad to address it.
If you EVER feel unsafe or uncomfortable FOR ANY REASON tell a staff person. We do not want any of our volunteers to be uncomfortable! We will NEVER judge you for feeling uncomfortable!
We are happy to meet you at your car and walk you to the building if that will make you more comfortable! Call us!
Absolutely! All in-season, gently used donations are acceptable year round. You can drop them in a yellow bin as you enter and get a receipt at the front desk. Thank you!
It’s only because of volunteers that we can serve up to 300 people a day at Paul’s Place.
Thank you to those who dedicate countless hours to ensuring the programs and services run smoothly at Paul's Place - not just this month but every month.
"From the moment I saw Dolly's face and read her story, I was hooked into supporting Paul's Place, Inc. Dolly is one of their success stories and continues to be an ambassador for them. Paul's Place, Inc. started out as a soup kitchen but has ended up being much more to the Pigtown community of Baltimore. They provide social services, afterschool programs, community events, laundry facilities, etc. It is a place for those in the communtiy to visit and feel safe. This is necessary as Pigtown is one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in Baltimore. Most importantly Paul's Place, Inc. provides their guests with respect and encouragement."