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 Development Team at 859-721-0144 or at hopecenter@hopectr.org.
Volunteer Opportunities
Serve a Meal
The 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 FAQs
What are the volunteer minimum age policies?
Although we would like to accommodate volunteers of all ages, given the diversity among those we serve, the minimum age of volunteers is 12 years old. Students under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult or parent chaperone. A great way to involve those under age 12 is for them to organize a Needs Drive or make sandwiches for our Mobile Outreach Program.
How do I become a volunteer?
Please begin by reading our online Volunteer Handbook and completing the Volunteer Application.
What kind of volunteer opportunities do you have for groups?
Groups of 6-8 people can serve a meal at the Jacobs Hope Cafeteria. Other opportunities for groups (work teams, special events) may be available upon request. Groups (like Sunday School classes or youth groups) can also support the Hope Center through organizing a Needs Drive. Visit our group opportunities page to learn more.
Is there a dress code for volunteering?
Food service volunteers MUST wear non-slip, closed-toed shoes, long hair pulled back, and no dangling jewelry; wear clothes you are comfortable in and don’t mind getting a little dirty! We ask that all volunteers be mindful of the clothing they choose in regards to both modesty and subject matter. (Provocative clothing and clothing that shows too much skin or is too tight or too short would be inappropriate.) Please do not bring purses or valuables into the facility, as we don’t have extra space to secure them.
What is the time commitment for volunteering?
We understand that your availability may be limited at this time, so many of our opportunities have a flexible schedule. Depending on the area you would like to volunteer in, the schedule will vary. You can serve a meal on one occasion or sign-up to volunteer for an event. If you are able to commit more time, we have other positions that require a weekly, monthly, or longer commitment. We have volunteer opportunities throughout the day, from 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM.
Do you provide volunteering opportunities for court-ordered community service?
We do have limited opportunities for court ordered community service volunteers.
Do all of your volunteer opportunities involve directly working with the homeless population?
The majority of our volunteering opportunities do involve direct contact with our homeless population. However, we have other ongoing positions, including event volunteers, which do not.
Get Help
Emergency Shelter
360 W. Loudon Ave. Lexington, KY 40508
859-252-7881
Hyde Hope Health Clinic: 859-225-5035
(For Men's 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 organization.
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: 5/23/2022


