Community Outreach
Volunteer at Dorothy Day Place
Catholic Charities Dorothy Day Place is an integrated two-building campus designed to prevent and end homelessness by focusing on three components: dignified shelter, permanent homes and dedicated services that will create pathways to opportunities.
Catholic Charities serves all people, regardless of faith. Our mission is rooted in Christian faith and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. These values inspire the work that we do for and with those most in need.
We need volunteers every 4th Saturday of every other month to go to Dorothy Day and help them prep and serve the dinner service.
- Dinner services usually feed 300-350 guests.
- Volunteers may sign up for one or both shifts.
Shifts: 2:00 – 3:30 pm and 3:30 – 5:30 pm
Volunteer Requirements:
- You must be 14 years or older to volunteer in our food service programs.
- Youth must be 16 years or older to help in the kitchen and those 14 and 15 may help on the serving line.
- Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a supervising adult at a ratio of one adult to five youths.
Facility Information:
You need to register at Dorothy Day by clicking the red button below before you sign up to volunteer by clicking the blue button. We have also provided information about the building and parking when you arrive for your volunteer opportunity.
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
What is Habitat for Humanity?
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit organization that partners with families in need to build or improve a place they can call home. Contrary to popular belief, Habitat does not “give away” houses; instead, it uses a “hand-up, not a hand-out” model. More information is available via the following sites.
Habitat for Humanity International https://www.habitat.org
The Twin Cities affiliate: Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity https://www.tchabitat.org
What types of projects are occurring in the Twin Cities?
There are many projects within the Twin Cities that are in progress or planned. Some are rehabs of older houses, others are new builds. Both of these types of projects are spread across the metro area. In the east metro these projects are currently located in Maplewood, Roseville, and St Paul, to name a few.
Of special note is “The Heights”. The Heights”is the largest project in the history of the Twin Cities affiliate. It is located on the 112-acre site of the former Hillcrest Golf Course on St. Paul’s East Side. It was the home of the 2024 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project. Its scope includes 147 affordable homeownership units including single-family homes, twin homes, and townhomes. This is a multi year project that it is continuing in 2026 and beyond. To learn more about it, please see the links below.
https://www.tchabitat.org/
What do I need to know about being a volunteer?
Experience Needed? First off no experience is necessary. Typically, there are a variety of tasks that need to get done. In addition, the Habitat Staff and regular volunteers are part of a group and can guide you. Habitat also provides all the tools you need.
Time Commitment?
Volunteers are required to give a full working day that typically starts at 8:30 am and runs until 3:30. Groups, where all the members are from the same organization such as St Judes, are typically assigned multiple days. The specific week/days and time of year is worked out with Habitat or the organization.
Is it only week days?
Yes, it is, for the most part. There are some Saturday’s that are scheduled for specific groups. The more we know about those interested, the size of the group, and their availability the more we can work with Habitat on scheduling.
What Next?
At this point we are building a list of interested members of St Jude’s to see the number/size of the groups we could work to schedule and the best path forward.