Volunteer Activities Canceled
Volunteer activities are canceled for today, 1/13/2025, at both the Buffalo City Mission Community Center Downtown and Cornerstone Manor.
Volunteer
Why you should be a Volunteer
Volunteers are the heartbeat of the Buffalo City Mission! With the help of volunteers like you, all of our programs and services are made possible to change lives at the Mission every day.
Required: You are NOT a court-ordered volunteer.
God Bless!
Partner in service and purpose with the Buffalo City Mission to provide lasting change with positive impact to the hurting and homeless in our community.
– MISSION STATEMENT
Volunteer Opportunities
Onsite Opportunities
There are individual and group opportunities listed for each facility listed below. Note: Individual minimum age is 18 years old. Group minimum age is 16. 16 and 17 year olds will need a signed Parental Permission form. If you have any questions please contact the Volunteer Manager at 854-8181 x408.
Alfiero Family Center of Hope and Promise
Cornerstone Manor Women and Children’s Shelter
Kitchen Team (Alfiero Family Center)
Share a meal, a smile, and the love of Christ with every guest who walks through our doors. Whether you’re preparing food, serving meals, or helping keep the kitchen running smoothly, you’ll play an important role in creating a welcoming experience for our residents and community guests.
Available Shifts
- Breakfast: 6:30 AM – 9:30 AM
- Lunch: 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- Dinner: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Commitment: Weekly or bi-weekly
Availability: Seven days a week
Volunteer Education Instructor (Alfiero Family Center & Cornerstone Manor)
Use your talents to help transform lives. Whether you’re passionate about budgeting, cooking, job readiness, art, fitness, parenting, or another life skill, you can equip our residents with practical tools for lasting success.
Class topics include:
- Basic Life Skills
- Creative Arts
- Work Readiness
- Health & Wellness
- Fitness & Nutrition
- Addiction Recovery
- Spiritual Growth
- Restorative Healing
Our Director of Education will help you develop your curriculum.
Commitment: One-hour class each week for a 12-week semester
Class Size: Typically 5–10 students
Chapel Speaker (Alfiero Family Center)
Do you have a passion for sharing God’s Word? Encourage and inspire our residents by delivering a biblical message during one of our daily chapel services.
Speakers must have an endorsement from their pastor or local church.
Service Times: Daily at 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM
Volunteer Barber & Beauty Team (Alfiero Family Center & Cornerstone Manor)
A simple haircut can restore dignity, build confidence, and remind someone they are valued. If you’re a licensed barber, hairstylist, or cosmetologist, we’d love for you to share your skills with those experiencing homelessness.
Availability: Monday–Friday
Welcome Center Receptionist (Alfiero Family Center)
Be the first friendly face our guests encounter. Welcome residents, visitors, and community members while assisting with appointments, answering phones, and connecting people to the services they need.
Availability: Monday–Friday
Spa Team (Cornerstone Manor)
Help create an unforgettable evening of relaxation and encouragement for the women of Cornerstone Manor. We’re seeking licensed estheticians, cosmetologists, massage therapists, and beauty professionals to provide basic spa services during our special spa nights.
We typically host two spa nights each year and welcome professionals willing to donate both their time and products.
Agape Shop Volunteer (Alfiero Family Center)
Help provide a dignified shopping experience for our guests by welcoming shoppers, organizing inventory, and assisting with checkout and packaging.
Available Shifts
- Mondays & Wednesdays
- 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Agape Boutique Volunteer (Cornerstone Manor)
Support women and children by helping them shop for clothing and essentials at our free boutique. Volunteers assist with guest check-in, organizing inventory, and creating a warm, welcoming experience.
Available Shifts
- Wednesdays: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Thursdays: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Commitment: Bi-weekly
Community Impact Team
Love variety? This is the volunteer team that helps make everything happen behind the scenes. From preparing for special events and organizing donations to writing thank-you cards and tackling unique projects, no two volunteer days are ever the same.
If you’re flexible, organized, and enjoy jumping in wherever you’re needed, this team is for you!
Availability: Monday–Friday during business hours
Dispatcher Volunteer (Alfiero Family Center)
Help connect generous donors with the Mission by assisting with phone calls, scheduling donation pickups, answering questions, and providing light administrative support.
Available Shifts
- Tuesdays & Thursdays
- Business Hours
Receiving Department Volunteer (Alfiero Family Center)
Every donated item tells a story of generosity. Help ensure those gifts reach the people who need them most by sorting, organizing, and preparing incoming donations for distribution throughout the Mission.
Availability: Monday–Saturday during business hours
Resident Assistant Support Team (Alfiero Family Center)
Not every volunteer opportunity is glamorous—but every one makes a difference. Work alongside our Resident Assistants to keep living spaces clean, organized, and welcoming for the men we serve.
This is a hands-on role that requires a willingness to roll up your sleeves and tackle projects that have a direct impact on our residents’ daily lives.
Availability: Monday–Friday
Sponsor a Resident’s Birthday
Birthdays can be incredibly difficult for someone experiencing homelessness. For many of our residents, they are a reminder of loss, loneliness, or being forgotten. You have the opportunity to change that.
Sponsor a resident’s birthday by purchasing a thoughtful gift ($20–$25), wrapping it with care, and helping remind someone they are seen, valued, and deeply loved. It’s a simple act of kindness that creates a lasting memory.
Opportunity Type: Onsite or Offsite
Commitment: Monthly
BINGO Night (Alfiero Family Center)
Bring laughter, excitement, and community to our residents by hosting a fun-filled BINGO night! Gather your team, provide prizes, call the games, and spend an evening building relationships with the men we serve. It’s one of our residents’ favorite activities and a wonderful way to create joy and connection.
Opportunity Type: Onsite
Availability: Weekdays | 5:45 PM – 7:00 PM
Volunteers Needed: 4 – 6
Chapel Worship Team (Cornerstone Manor)
Use your gifts to lead others into the presence of God through worship.
We’re seeking church worship teams, praise bands, and musicians who have a passion for sharing the Gospel through music. Each evening includes a time of worship followed by a brief biblical message that encourages and strengthens our residents in their faith journey. Church endorsement is required.
Opportunity Type: Onsite
Availability: Evenings
Commitment: Monthly
Volunteers Needed: 2 or more
Room Flip Team (Cornerstone Manor)
Help transform an empty room into a place a family can finally call home.
Before a new family arrives at Cornerstone Manor, each family suite is carefully cleaned, prepared, and thoughtfully decorated. Volunteers help deep clean, make beds, organize the space, and add welcoming touches that remind each family they are entering a place of hope and new beginnings.
Opportunity Type: Onsite
Availability: Weekdays
Volunteers Needed: 3 or more
Hospitality Team (Cornerstone Manor or Alfiero Family Center)
Help create a warm, welcoming dining experience for every meal.
Sponsor one of our dining rooms for a month by decorating tables with tablecloths, centerpieces, seasonal décor, and thoughtful touches that help our residents feel valued and cared for. Small details can make a big difference in creating a space that feels like home.
Opportunity Type: Onsite or Offsite
Availability: Weekdays
Volunteers Needed: 3 or more
Special Events Team (Cornerstone Manor)
Create unforgettable memories for the women and children at Cornerstone Manor.
Whether it’s a craft night, karaoke, game night, dance party, movie night, or seasonal celebration, your group can host an evening filled with laughter, fellowship, and fun. Volunteers provide all activity supplies and lead the event, giving our residents an opportunity to relax, connect, and simply enjoy being together.
Some favorite events include:
- Pumpkin Painting
- Easter Egg Decorating
- Christmas Crafts
- Spa Nights
- Game Nights
- Holiday Celebrations
We’d love to hear your creative ideas!
Opportunity Type: Onsite
Availability: Tuesday Evenings from 5:30p – 7:15p
Volunteers Needed: 5 – 15
Paint Day Team (Cornerstone Manor or Alfiero Family Center)
A fresh coat of paint can completely transform a space.
Help refresh bedrooms, hallways, classrooms, and common areas throughout the Mission. Whether you’re an experienced painter or simply willing to lend a hand, your work helps create welcoming spaces where our residents can heal, grow, and feel at home.
Opportunity Type: Onsite
Availability: Weekdays
Volunteers Needed: 10 – 15
Garden Team (Cornerstone Manor or Alfiero Family Center)
Help make our outdoor spaces beautiful and inviting.
Spend time planting flowers, pulling weeds, mulching garden beds, and caring for the grounds around our shelters. Beautiful outdoor spaces provide peace, encouragement, and pride for the men, women, and children who call the Mission home.
Whether you have a green thumb or simply enjoy working outside, we’d love to have you join us.
Opportunity Type: Onsite
Availability: Weekdays
Volunteers Needed: 5 – 7
Donation Support Team (Alfiero Family Center)
Every donation tells a story of generosity.
Help ensure those gifts are ready to bless someone in need by sorting, organizing, and preparing donations for distribution throughout the Mission. Your work behind the scenes keeps our operations running smoothly and allows essential items to reach our residents quickly.
This is a great opportunity for groups looking for a hands-on service project.
Opportunity Type: Onsite
Availability: Saturdays | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Volunteers Needed: 5 – 10
Agape Shop Restock Team (Alfiero Family Center)
Help keep our free community store fully stocked and ready to serve.
Volunteers assist with organizing shelves, replenishing inventory, displaying merchandise, and preparing the Agape Shop so every guest enjoys a welcoming shopping experience with dignity and respect.
Opportunity Type: Onsite
Availability: Tuesdays & Thursdays
Volunteers Needed: 2 – 4
Cook & Serve (Cornerstone Manor)
Gather your family, church, business, or volunteer group to prepare and serve a homemade meal for the women and children at Cornerstone Manor.
Volunteers plan the menu, purchase ingredients, prepare the meal, serve dinner, and spend time connecting with residents around the table. Sharing a meal is about more than food. It’s an opportunity to build relationships, offer encouragement, and remind each guest they are loved and supported.
This experience is one of the most meaningful ways to serve and is perfect for groups looking to make a tangible impact.
Opportunity Type: Onsite
Availability: Weekdays
Volunteers Needed: 5 – 7
If you have any questions please reach out to our Volunteer Department at [email protected]. The Volunteer Department staff will contact you once we have received your application for next steps. We look forward to hearing from you!Additional Opportunities
Click below for more information and to register
Host a Donation Drive
Make a lasting impact before you ever step inside the Mission.
Gather your church, school, business, neighborhood, or organization to collect much-needed items for the men, women, and children we serve. Donation drives help keep our shelves stocked with essential items throughout the year and directly support individuals rebuilding their lives.
Our Volunteer Department will work with you to develop a customized list of our greatest needs along with promotional materials to help make your drive a success.
Opportunity Type: Offsite
Availability: Flexible
Prayer Warrior
One prayer can make an eternal difference.
Join our Prayer Warrior team and faithfully lift up the men, women, children, staff, volunteers, and ministry of the Buffalo City Mission. As a Prayer Warrior, you’ll receive regular prayer updates highlighting current needs, praises, and opportunities to pray specifically for those we serve.
Whether you pray individually, with your family, small group, or church, your prayers are a vital part of the Mission’s work and the lives being transformed every day.
Opportunity Type: Offsite
Commitment: Flexible
Church Ambassador Program
Be the bridge between your church and the Buffalo City Mission.
As a Church Ambassador, you’ll serve as the primary connection between your congregation and the Mission, helping share volunteer opportunities, donation drives, special events, and ministry updates. You’ll inspire your church family to get involved while helping us build meaningful, lasting partnerships that make a greater impact throughout our community.
Church Ambassadors are invited to quarterly gatherings where they’ll receive ministry updates, resources, and ideas to engage their congregation in serving those experiencing homelessness.
Whether your church is already involved or looking for ways to partner, we’d love to have you join this growing network of advocates and champions for the Mission.
Opportunity Type: Offsite (with occasional onsite meetings)
Commitment: Quarterly meetings with ongoing communication
Have an idea that’s not listed? Looking for a unique way to serve? Planning a holiday outreach, company service day, or church volunteer event? We’d love to hear from you!
Whether you’re interested in hosting a special event, organizing a seasonal celebration, serving with a large group, or creating a one-of-a-kind volunteer experience, we’re always open to new ideas. From holiday parties and back-to-school events to team-building service projects and community outreach, we’ll work with you to create a meaningful opportunity that fits your group’s interests and makes a lasting impact.
No idea is too big or too small! We love partnering with individuals, churches, businesses, schools, and community groups to bring creativity, joy, and hope to the men, women, and children we serve.
Request a Mission Speaker or Info for a Tabling Event
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