Volunteer

HRH relies on volunteers to operate our many programs. We offer the following volunteer opportunities.

Please review the list below, and then fill out a Volunteer Application indicating your preferences and availability. Applications can be emailed to volunteer@hudsonriverhousing.org or dropped off at our Administrative Offices at 313 Mill Street, Poughkeepsie. We will review your application, and if we have an opportunity available, we will contact you.

Details on programs and site locations are available on our Programs & Services page. Not all opportunities are always available. While we will make an effort to accommodate volunteering requests, we cannot guarantee that we can accommodate every individual or group.

Adopt-a-Program Holiday Giving

Help make the holiday season brighter for youth, seniors, families, and adults in our housing programs!

In order to best meet the needs of the hundreds of adults and children in our programs, individuals and groups seeking to help during the holiday season are asked to participate in Adopt-a-Program Holiday Giving. You can select a program or site of interest to you, or we can suggest one, and provide enough of a single item for each of the families or individuals in that program. Suggested items include gift cards, gloves and hats, bus passes, food items, household goods, and personal care packages. Due to the high turnover in our programs, volunteers are encouraged to avoid gender or age specific items. Please contact us before selecting a program or purchasing items, so we can provide details on the number of families and individuals in the program and make sure everything can be put to good use!

All those interested in participating in Adopt-a-Program Holiday Giving must complete a Volunteer Application. Be sure to indicate Adopt-a-Program Holiday Giving as your area of interest.

Emergency and Transitional Shelter Services for the Homeless

“Adopt a Night”: Help serve meals at our Dutchess County Coalition for the Homeless overnight shelter. Volunteers are needed to help prepare and/or serve meals to up to 60 adults each evening. 8pm – 10pm daily. Due to the generous support of the faith-based community and other individuals and groups, our calendar fills quickly each year, so we cannot guarantee that there will be availability each night. A maximum of five people can volunteer during any given shift. Not appropriate for children under 14.

Help serve meals at Hudson River Lodging (emergency housing for families) or Hillcrest House (transitional housing for adults). Volunteers are needed to help prepare and/or serve meals in a cafeteria setting to families and individuals staying in our emergency and transitional housing facilities. Lunch 11am – 1pm, any day; dinner 4pm – 6pm, any day.A maximum of three people can volunteer during any given shift.

Activities for Families, Youth, Adults, and Seniors

Story time & craft time at Hudson River Lodging, River Haven Youth Programs, Cannon Street Senior Housing, or Maybrook Senior Housing. Volunteers are welcome to share stories or craft projects or teach activities such as dance or singing with families, youth, adults, or seniors in our housing programs. Activities can take place evenings or weekends, or during the day during the summer months. Volunteers must provide supplies for special projects. Those interested in volunteering at River Haven Youth Programs must take part in an extensive training and background check.
Teach art classes at Hillcrest House. Hillcrest House offers free art classes to residents every first Friday of the month. We are seeking volunteers to share their time and talents and teach a course in any medium. Some supplies are available, but volunteers are encouraged to bring as many supplies as possible for the project/medium they would like to teach.
Offer a career-learning or skills-building workshop to teens at River Haven Transitional Living Community. Professionals and those with specialized knowledge (banking, computing, etc.) are encouraged to contact us about offering an informal workshop to teens regarding career opportunities or life-skills. Tuesday evenings at 6pm only.

Help plan the annual Middle Main neighborhood holiday event. Volunteers and donors are needed to help plan and participate in the annual Middle Main neighborhood holiday event. The centerpiece of this event is a tree lighting. Crafts, storytelling, caroling, dance performances, cookie and recipe sharing, visits with Santa, and other activities take place as well. Ideas and suggestions are welcome! Neighborhood residents will gather for these activities and then join the Poughkeepsie city-wide Festival of Lights celebration. Planning begins in July, with a community planning meeting in November. The event is generally the first Friday of December.

Service Projects

Spring/fall grounds clean-up. Volunteers are needed to help our facilities staff with general fall and spring grounds clean-up, including weeding, mulching, planting, and raking leaves. Larger groups are welcome. Clean-up projects are available at all our project locations. In general, this activity is only available during April/May and October/November.
Main Street annual neighborhood survey. Volunteers are needed to help conduct an annual survey of residents and businesses along Main Street to assess improvements in neighborhood conditions. Volunteers will work in teams with staff to conduct door-to-door surveying. Training is provided. Larger groups are welcome. Surveying takes place annually during the months of September and October.

Administrative Activities

Provide administrative support to our office staff. Volunteers are needed at our Main Offices, located at 313 Mill Street in Poughkeepsie, to help greet customers and clients and provide general information, answer phones, help with basic filing, and other general administrative tasks. 12pm -2pm Monday – Friday, with some time flexibility.

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How you can help