Volunteer with us!
Thank you for your interest in helping neighbors in our community.
Volunteer Opportunities
To begin your volunteer journey with Cornerstones, you will need to create an account in VolunteerHub, our volunteer management system. Once you have created an account, you can immediately sign up for some of the opportunities that you see listed. Other opportunities require a more in-depth onboarding process, including, but not limited to, a background check. Please note that we do NOT accept court-ordered (or attorney-advised) community service volunteers.
Our minimum age to volunteer for most positions is 18. There are some opportunities for those 16 years of age and older. On occasion, we have opportunities for those as young as 14. Volunteers between 14 and 15 years of age must volunteer with a parent or guardian, and we ask that both the teen and parent or guardian create separate accounts in VolunteerHub at the same time. The parent or guardian is a volunteer and must actively participate in the volunteer activity with the volunteer who is under 16 years of age.
Volunteer opportunities include:
- Embry Rucker Community Shelter: Building Assistant, Front Desk Assistant, Kitchen Assistant, Organization Assistant (age 18+ and background check)
- Farmers Markets: Gleaner, Lead Gleaner, SNAP at Market Assistant (age 16+) and Lead SNAP at Market Assistant (age 18+ and background check)
- FREE from Hunger Center (Food Hub): Food Sorter (age 16+)
- Main Office: Front Desk Assistant (age 18+)
- Math Tutor (age 18+ and background check)
- Other: Event Assistant, Seasonal Drive Helper (age varies)
On-site Group Volunteer Opportunities
Thank you for your interest in an on-site group volunteer opportunity!
Please note the following:
- Most group opportunities occur at our FREE from Hunger Center in Sterling. We also offer some opportunities at our Embry Rucker Community Shelter in Reston. Both locations can typically accommodate up to 5 volunteers per group. Refer to VolunteerHub for more information.
- Please note that larger group volunteer opportunities are generally reserved for annual partners and the maximum number of volunteers we can accommodate is 50, which is reserved for higher-level annual partners.
- Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age to assist at our FREE from Hunger Center and 18 years of age to help at the shelter.
Please submit an On-site Group Volunteer Opportunities Request Form, and a member of our Development Team will review your request and be in touch.
For other ways to help as a group, please review our off-site volunteer opportunities list.
Off-site Group Volunteer Opportunities
If you are looking for a volunteer activity that can be done at home, school, or as an off-site group opportunity at a location of your choice, please consider one of our six off-site volunteer opportunities.
- Make Bedtime Snack Packs for Children
- Make Snack Packs for Adults
- Make Bagged Meals
- Catering for the Embry Rucker Community Shelter
- Build a Kit (Kitchen Staples, Food for Kids, Welcome Home, Personal Hygiene)
- Host a Drive
These activities are good volunteer options for those under 13 years of age, which is the youngest age possible for volunteering on-site with Cornerstones. To learn more, visit our Off-site Volunteer Opportunities document.
Please note that you or your group will be responsible for the purchase of supplies and creation of whichever off-site volunteer option you choose.
Teen Community Service
Teens often need to fulfill a community service requirement for school. Please note the following regarding our volunteer program:
- Our minimum age to volunteer for most on-site positions is 18.
- There are a few opportunities for those 16 years of age or older.
- On occasion (infrequently), we have opportunities for those as young as 14. Volunteers between 14 and 15 years of age must volunteer with a parent or guardian, and we ask that both the teen and parent or guardian create separate accounts in VolunteerHub at the same time. The parent or guardian is a volunteer and must actively participate in the volunteer activity with the teen who is under 16 years of age.
The teen can also volunteer off-site by working on a project from our list of off-site activities. There is no age restriction for off-site opportunities; however, the teen must be approved in advance by contacting Volunteer and Community Engagement staff at volunteer@cornerstonesva.org before working on a project from the list. Once approved and at the project’s completion, staff will sign off on the teen’s hours.
Court-Related Community Service
We do NOT accept court-ordered (or attorney-advised) community service volunteers.
Volunteer FAQs
Interested in volunteering with us but have some questions? We’ve created a list of answers to some of the most asked questions about volunteering at Cornerstones.
I see that your minimum age for some volunteer positions is 14 years old. Are there any opportunities to help for those younger than 14? We have off-site opportunities for youth under 14 that can be done at home, school, or as a group, please click here.
Do you accept court-ordered (or attorney-advised) community service volunteers? No, we do NOT accept court-ordered (or attorney-advised) community service volunteers.
Do I need to register to be a volunteer at Cornerstones or can I drop in? All volunteers, including parents or guardians, are required to register in VolunteerHub, our volunteer management system, before their first shift with Cornerstones. After volunteers have created a volunteer account, they are able to select volunteer opportunities. To create your volunteer account, please click here.
Do I need to schedule a time to volunteer? All volunteer opportunities should be scheduled in advance. Volunteers are not permitted to show up to a volunteer activity without registering ahead of time. After volunteers have created an account, they are able to select from a variety of shift times and shift lengths in a variety of different areas.
Is there a dress code for volunteers? For many opportunities, volunteers are required to wear closed-toed shoes. Comfortable shoes and comfortable work clothes are recommended. Please dress appropriately for the volunteer opportunity, taking into consideration location and weather conditions.
When does Cornerstones host volunteer shifts? There are a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the year on weekdays, weekends, mornings, afternoons, and nights. Once you have created an account in VolunteerHub, our volunteer management system, you can view opportunity descriptions that will include location, date, and time.
Are there other ways I can help neighbors in my community through Cornerstones? Absolutely! For a list of our most needed current items at the Embry Rucker Community Shelter, please visit our Amazon Wish List. You can also donate clothing to The Closet. We do not accept used toys or books. Please consider donating used toys to The Closet and books to your local library.
Contact Us
We want to hear from you! Please contact Volunteer and Community Engagement Staff at volunteer@cornerstonesva.org.
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