Your Time & Talent
can help save lives

Welcome to the family of volunteers at the Hope Center! Our volunteers, who generously give of their time and talents, allow us to rebuild lives every day. Your commitment to volunteering at the Hope Center will have a positive impact on our community and on the lives of those we serve. We are happy you are here; please join us! For more information, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Carey Cairo, at 859-721-0144 ext. 222 or ccairo@hopectr.org.

Individual Opportunities

Serve a Meal

Our Jacobs Hope Cafeteria serves over 38,000 meals per month, and we rely on dedicated volunteers to help us feed the homeless. Our staff prepares and cooks the meal, and we utilize volunteers to serve meals and drinks to our clients. Volunteers serving meals must be over age 12, and volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult parent, guardian or group leader.

We can accommodate a maximum of 6 volunteers per meal service.

Donate Food

The Jacobs Hope Cafeteria provides over 38,000 meals per month to our homeless clients. We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner 365 days per year, relying on the generosity of donors to help offset the cost of food. Food donations may be dropped off at the Jacobs Hope Cafeteria, 299 W. Loudon Avenue.

Share Your Expertise

Are you a personal trainer? Work in banking, food service or a health service field? Do you have a special skill or some kind of training that may benefit the needs of our clients? Let us know!

Our Recovery Clients all attend Life Skills classes, which prepare them for successful independent living. We have volunteers who teach a variety of classes, including personal finance, healthy cooking, anger management and meditation, and more.

Volunteer at an Event

The Hope Center has special events throughout the year, and we are always in need of volunteers to help us make our events a success! Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Carey Cairo at 859-721-0144 ext. 222 or ccairo@hopectr.org to learn more.

Host a Needs Drive

Our clients are getting back on their feet, and the Hope Center can always use donations of gently-used clothing, household items and travel size personal hygiene items, such as shampoo, soap, disposable razors, shaving cream and deodorant. We cannot accept any alcohol based toiletries including hand sanitizer or mouthwash.

Donations of men’s clothing and toiletries, as well as hats, gloves and outerwear may be dropped off at any time of the day at the Men’s Emergency Shelter located at 360 W. Loudon Avenue in Lexington, Kentucky.

Donations of women’s clothing may be dropped off at the Ball-Quantrell Recovery Center for Women, located at 1524 Versailles Road in Lexington, KY.

Hopemobile Sandwich Making

Our mobile outreach program, the HopeMobile, distributes 100-150 brown bag lunches each day to the downtown Lexington homeless and marginally housed. We rely on volunteers to prepare sandwiches/ lunches for HopeMobile.

Sandwiches and bag lunches can be made at your own convenience, at your location, with as many or as few volunteers as you have available, then dropped at the Emergency Shelter at 360 W. Loudon Avenue.

Email for More Info

Your time

empowers people

Non-profit organizations deeply need your commitment to volunteering, and it has such a positive impact on our community and on the lives of those we serve. Please consider volunteering with your time and making a difference at the Hope Center.

Group Opportunities

Learn and Serve

This half-day opportunity combines hands-on service with an educational tour of the Men’s Emergency Shelter to provide your group with a deeper understanding of the issues of homelessness, poverty and addiction. Participants emerge from this session as educated advocates who can bring new insight about the issues of homelessness and poverty to their work places and communities.

A session can be designed to meet the needs of your group. We are happy to collaborate with you to ensure that your group gains knowledge of the issues that interest you. A typical Learn and Serve day will include a tour, presentation of our programs and the opportunity to serve a meal at the Jacobs Hope Cafeteria. Perfect for groups of 5-15 volunteers.

Evening Sponsor and Serve

This opportunity allows volunteers to supply the food for a meal or make a fiscal contribution covering the cost of food and interact with our clients though hands-on service. Not only will you have the satisfaction of covering the cost of a meal, you will have the chance to see your donation put to work as you help prepare the food and serve our clients! The average cost for a meal is $200+, and we typically serve around 200 people per meal.

Unable to cover the cost of a meal? The Hope Center appreciates any donation of your group’s time and energy. Groups are more than welcome to serve meals whether or not they are able to sponsor them. Please note that our meal service calendar does book up in advance so plan ahead! Perfect for 3-10 volunteers.

Serve a Meal
Our Jacobs Hope Cafeteria serves over 38,000 meals per month, and we rely on church groups, civic groups and businesses to help us feed the homeless. Our staff prepares and cooks the meal, and we utilize volunteers to serve meals and drinks to our clients. Meal times are as follows:

Breakfast: Mon. – Fri. 6:30 – 7:30 a.m. & Sat. – Sun. 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Lunch: Noon – 1:00 p.m. Everyday
Dinner: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Everyday

We can accommodate a maximum of 6-8 volunteers per meal service.

Other Group Service Projects

Between our Men’s and Women’s Recovery Centers, Men’s Emergency Shelter and the Jacobs House, there is always something that needs to be done! We utilize business groups, churches and other dedicated volunteer groups for projects such as painting, landscaping, and cleaning projects. To schedule a group service project, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Carey Cairo at 859-721-0144 ext. 222 or ccairo@hopectr.org. Perfect for groups of 5 – 15 volunteers.

Email for More Info

Volunteer Application

Please complete this application form if you are interested in becoming a volunteer for the Hope Center. Once you complete the form, click the submit button at the bottom. We ask for church and employer information in order to build better relationships with local churches and businesses. This information is not required but encouraged.

Volunteer Handbook
Parental Consent

First

Last

Street Address, Apt or Suite #

Volunteer Waiver

I agree that I will be working with the Hope Center on a voluntary, non-paid basis. I agree not to hold the Hope Center liable for any injuries or damages I may incur while acting as a volunteer. I realize that I am responsible for my own safety and that the Hope Center is not responsible for any negligence on my part.

I attest that the information on the Volunteer Application is true to the best of my knowledge and give permission for the Hope Center to verify its authenticity. I understand the volunteer opportunities available and am able to perform these duties, and I will respect and observe the volunteer schedule. I agree to the Confidentiality Clause, Safety Protocol, Workplace Harassment form, and I will not engage in Dual Relationships with any Hope Center client.

I grant permission for the Hope Center to use my photograph in marketing materials and in social media. I understand that I am not allowed to make any public statement about the Hope Center, and understand that filling out this application does not guarantee volunteer placement.

The Hope Center reserves the right to refuse a volunteer placement. The Hope Center accepts the service of all approved volunteers with the understanding that such service is at the sole discretion of the Hope Center. Volunteers agree that the organization may, at any time, for whatever reason, decide to terminate the volunteer’s relationship with the Hope Center or to make changes in the nature of the volunteer’s assignment.

To learn more and review ALL terms and conditions, please read through our Volunteer Handbook.

Understanding the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) for Volunteers

The Kentucky Department of Corrections mandates zero tolerance toward all forms of sexual abuse and sexual harassment.
Many Hope Center Clients are court-ordered into our Recovery Programs. As a volunteer, you may have staff supervised interaction with our Department of Corrections clients, and all volunteers who volunteer with DOC clients are required to submit the following form. This form states that as a volunteer, you will not have any sexual or romantic contact with Hope Center clients, as they may fall under the federal PREA laws.

What is Prea
The Prison Rape Elimination Act of September 4, 2003 (Public Law 108-79) was enacted by Congress to address the problem of sexual abuse, sexual assault, and sexual harassment in all US penal facilities. PREA supports the elimination, reduction and prevention of sexual assault/rape within our prisons, community corrections centers and local jails. PREA applies to Offender-on-Offender and Staff-on-Offender sexual misconduct. Any resident or inmate of a KDOC facility or its contractors is considered to be at disadvantage, and is not legally capable of consent to any sexual activity.

What is Sexual Abuse?
Sexual abuse is defined as any type of undesired behavior of a sexual nature. This includes any unsolicited attempted sexual contact, any voyeurism, or coercion to engage in any sexual act. When sexual contact is accomplished or solicited through fear, threat of bodily harm or implied threat, it is considered to be sexual abuse.

What is Sexual Assault?
Sexual Assault is defined as any undesired contact of a sexual nature. It is against Kentucky state law for any staff member, contractor or volunteer to engage in any type of behavior or act of a sexual nature with an offender or resident. This includes any sexual contact or intercourse of any kind.

What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual Harassment is defined as undesired verbal statements or comments of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment is prohibited by offenders, staff members, volunteers, contractors, official visitors or agency representatives, and includes any demeaning reference to gender or derogatory comments about body or clothing: profane or obscene language or gestures.

What To Do If You Have Been Sexually Abused?
If you have been abused, get to a safe place. Any victim of sexual abuse is encouraged to report any necessary event as soon as possible. It is important to know that victims do not have to identify their assailant. But, all staff and authorities are required to report any criminal activity to Law Enforcement.

The Department of Corrections provides multiple ways to report sexual abuse or sexual harassment: Written report to any staff member, Verbal report to any staff member, Call the confidential PREA Hotline (855-700-7732)

If you have been the victim of sexual abuse, DO NOT: Shower, brush your teeth, use the restroom, change your clothes, eat, drink or smoke. Doing any of the above prior to reporting the abuse may destroy important evidence.

How Can Individuals Avoid Incidents of Sexual Abuse?
Stay away from isolated areas such as closets, stairwells, and isolated/unoccupied restrooms.
Stay within the eyesight of facility staff member whenever possible.
Be aware of your body language.
Avoid conversations involving sexual topics, family relationships, sexual experiences, financial status.

Get Help

Emergency Shelter

360 W. Loudon Ave. Lexington, KY 40508

859-252-7881

Hyde Hope Health Clinic: 859-225-5035

(For Recovery Program intake, call the Emergency Shelter and ask for Intake)

Reach Us

Men's Recovery Intake Number

859-252-7881

Women's Recovery Intake Number

859-252-2002

Donations & volunteers

859-721-0144

The Hope Center is a 501c3 non-profit.
For all donations or volunteer assistance contact the Development Department at 859-721-0144.

For Men’s Emergency Shelter and Recovery Program questions and intake call 859-252-7881.
For Women’s Recovery Program intake call 859-252-2002.

Copyright © 2018 The Hope Center, Lexington, KY. All Rights Reserved.  Site designed by Block & Gray

Last Updated: 1/4/2022