Volunteer
Volunteering at Muskegon Rescue Mission is more than giving your time—it’s about making a real difference in the lives of individuals and families in our community. By providing meals, clothing, shelter, and support, volunteers help demonstrate the love of Christ in practical, meaningful ways.
519 Volunteers donated 7,884 hours in 2024.
Will you join the impact?
INDIVIDUALS
From preparing meals to organizing clothing and assisting in our pantry, individual volunteers help create a welcoming, supportive environment for those we serve.
GROUPS
Gather your friends, coworkers, or church group and serve together. Group volunteer opportunities offer a meaningful way to work as a team while making a tangible impact through hands-on service.
BRING-A-MEAL
The Bring-A-Meal program invites individuals, families, and groups to provide a warm lunch or dinner for our shelter guests—offering nourishment, care, and encouragement.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Volunteers must be at least 14 years old. Anyone under 18 must serve with a parent or legal guardian, while adults 18 and older may volunteer independently.
Once you submit your volunteer application, our Volunteer Coordinator will follow up with a phone call. Next, you’ll meet with our Volunteer Coordinator for a brief interview, where you can ask any questions and learn more about your role and opportunities to serve.
Safety is a top priority at Muskegon Rescue Mission for our guests, staff, and volunteers. While individuals experiencing homelessness are often misunderstood or unfairly judged, many are simply working through significant life challenges.
Our staff is trained to create a safe, structured, and supportive environment. If you ever feel unsure or have safety concerns, please speak with a staff member immediately.
While we are grateful for volunteers who serve regularly, we understand that not everyone can make a long-term commitment. Whether you come once or serve weekly, your time makes a difference.
After your first shift, our Volunteer Coordinator will follow up with you to explain how to schedule future shifts. We ask that all volunteers schedule through the Volunteer Coordinator, as we are unable to accommodate walk-in or unscheduled volunteering.
Muskegon Rescue Mission offers comprehensive programs designed to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness find lasting stability. To protect healthy boundaries and ensure consistency in care, we kindly ask that while serving as a volunteer, you refrain from offering money, gifts, car rides, or other personal services to our guests beyond what your role entails.
The best way to help is by partnering with our team and supporting our programs. If you’re interested in other ways to contribute such as donating, advocating, or connecting others with MRM, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator.
For More Information
Ways to Serve
Shelters
Shelter Aide
Assist Shelter Supervisors in their evening tasks. These tasks include but are not limited to guest check-in, supervising guests during dinner or chapel and assisting with dinner service.
Kitchen Assistant
Prepare and serve meals, maintain kitchen cleanliness, and assist with meal clean up. Opportunities available mornings, afternoons, and evenings.
Ministry Opportunities
Evening Chapel Speaker
Spend time connecting and sharing the love of God with guests by leading a chapel service at minimum once a month. This position will require an interview with our Assistant Executive Director of Programming.
Bible Study Leader
Facilitate a weekly small group bible study sessions, guiding group discussions and providing opportunities for guests to grow their relationship with Christ.
Community Resource Center
Front Desk
Greet guests, transfer phone calls, answer general questions, collect donations, and assist staff efficiently while providing excellent customer service. This role is mainly seated.
Life Skills Leader
Teach guests a variety of basic life skills. These skills can include but are not limited to, budgeting, resume building, parenting, healthy relationships, interview preparation, or basic nutrition.
Thrift Stores
Thrift Store Assistant
Assist with sorting, pricing, and organizing donations, while providing customer service and maintaining store cleanliness.
Processing Center Assistant
Sort, inspect, and process clothing donations, ensuring items are prepared for sale at the stores.
Pantry
Pantry Assistant
Help pack food bags, organize and distribute food items to community members, maintain pantry inventory, and ensure a clean and efficient workspace.
Food Runner / Grocery Shopper
Go shopping for food items distributed weekly during pantry or used in our kitchen for meals made at the shelter.
Group Opportunites
Pantry Assistant
Help pack food bags, organize and distribute food items to community members, maintain pantry inventory, and ensure a clean and efficient workspace.
Food Runner / Grocery Shopper
Go shopping for food items distributed weekly during pantry.
Bright Futures
Front Desk
Greet children and their caregivers, transfer phone calls and answer general questions. This role is mainly seated.
Classroom Aide
Assist teaching staff with classroom management, support students with their tasks, and help prepare classroom activities.
Food Aide
Assist teaching staff with preparing meals and snacks for the children in our daycare.
Other Opportunites
Events
- Fill the Bowl
- ForeShore Adventure Run
- Unity Christian Music Festival
- Rise Up Gala
- Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway
Maintenance & Cleaning
Assist our operations and maintenance crew to complete various projects around our many locations including routine cleaning, deep cleaning, painting, routine yard work, snow removal, spring clean-up, etc.
