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  • Helpline: (831) 757-3838

Volunteer - Dorothy's Place

Volunteers Needed

Amid this Coivd-19 crisis, we’re still on the front line offering full services: twice-daily meals (at the door), offering hygiene, safe day shelter and continuing our social work. Please see below for Dorothy’s Kitchen and Dorothy’s Drop-In Center contact information. We’re Dorothy’s Place. We’re serving, and will continue to serve.

The work we do to enrich the lives of guests would cease without our volunteers!

We welcome you to partner with us because we believe that service to our community’s most vulnerable is one of the most thrilling experiences you can have.

While we always welcome professionals from social services, health and construction to share their expertise with us, you don’t have to be a services professional to have a rewarding volunteer experience at Dorothy’s Place. Both Dorothy’s Kitchen and Dorothy’s Drop-In Center need your attention every day of the year.

Dorothy’s Kitchen

We would love your help!
We serve breakfast 8:30 – 9:30 AM Monday through Saturday and we serve lunch 1:00 – 2:00 PM seven days a week. Saturday and Sunday lunches are handled by outside groups, who usually bring their own food and their own crew. Subsequently, we need volunteer help primarily for breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday.

Breakfast volunteers generally work 7:30 – 11:00 AM and lunch volunteers generally work 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM. We can accommodate volunteer groups of up to about 12-15 people. The youngest volunteer we can accommodate safely is ten-years-old. Any volunteer under eighteen years old must be accompanied by a parent/guardian over eighteen.

Email or phone Julieta Borges, Kitchen Program Director, with dates and times you’d like to come and she’ll be glad to make arrangements with you. Julieta’s email address is julieta.borges@dorothysplace.org.   Her phone is 831-276-5123. Thank you! 

Dorothy’s Drop-In Center

We’re open everyday between 7:30 am – 6:00 pm. Popular volunteer opportunities include staffing our clothing closet, assisting with laundry, running the shower list and greeting and dispensing coffee.

You can volunteer on your own schedule – as many hours as you like, as frequently as you wish. We will schedule your days and times in the Drop-In Center. Please call Dorothy’s Place: 831-757-3838 or email Jacqueline Gacayan, Drop-In Center, Program Director: jacqueline.gacayan@dorothysplace.org.  

Thank you!

One-time Events and Holiday Serving

Holiday Volunteering at Dorothy's Kitchen

The Holiday Season is a great time for family and friends to come together and volunteer at Dorothy’s Kitchen!  Check back with us in advance of major holidays and this section will be updated with our volunteer opportunities.

Individual and Professional Volunteers

Our individual volunteers are a huge help in supporting our programs. You may choose to come once a week, twice a month, or monthly to participate with Dorothy’s depending on your schedule and our program needs. As a volunteer, you will contribute your time and talent, doing both small and large tasks, and in the process we emphasize that you get to know the guests we serve and begin to become part of our community. We need people to be greeters, good listeners, kitchen helpers, floor sweepers, resume writers, database managers, and much more!

Additonally, as a community of people bound in service to the poor, we are always looking for professionals with special expertise to join us in service.  If you have professional expertise in any area that you believe could be of help to the poor, please consider donating your time and experience.  Some areas of need include:

  • Medical/Dental
  • Mental health
  • Counseling
  • Art
  • Music
  • Hair care/personal care
  • Building maintenance/electrical/mechanic contractor
  • Marketing
  • Fundraising
  • Website Design

If you’re interested in volunteering, please complete our on-line application or contact our Office Manager by email or phone, (831) 757-3838.

We have many faith communities, school groups, corporations, and service groups that volunteer at Dorothy’s Place – many for one-time service, and others on a regular basis. This is a great opportunity for your group to come and make a difference in the community as well as to gain team-building experience! During your service here, you will work together as a team to get things done for Dorothy’s — whether that is in preparing a meal together, helping to improve Dorothy’s facilities, or doing a special project.  We love to have groups from the community partner with us and learn how they can serve the people who come through Dorothy’s Place.

If your group is interested in volunteering, please complete our on-line Volunteer Group application or contact our Office Manager by email or by phone, (831) 757-3838.

Service Learning (CSUMB)

Students from California State University Monterey Bay’s Service Learning Institute serve at Dorothy’s Place throughout the school year, assisting us in our programs.