Volunteer
Thank You for Your Interest in Volunteering!
Volunteers help carry out Tedford’s mission every single day. Behind so many moments of comfort, stability, and care is someone who chose to show up — cooking a meal, preparing a room, tending to community gardens, or taking phone calls from those in need of emergency heating assistance.
There are many ways to get involved, whether you’re looking to volunteer regularly or help occasionally throughout the year. We’ll work with you to find an opportunity that fits your interests, availability, and comfort level. New to volunteering with Tedford Housing? We invite you to take the next step by filling out the volunteer application below.
Explore Volunteer Opportunities
Meal-A-Month
One of Tedford Housing’s longest-running volunteer efforts, the Meal-a-Month program brings a warm, home-cooked meal to our adult shelter every night of the year. Individuals, community groups, churches, and/or local businesses prepare a meal for 24 adult shelter guests once a month.
Meals typically include a main dish with a side and/or salad, and occasionally fruit or dessert. They should be delivered to 65 Thomas Point Road by 4:30 PM so they are ready for dinner service at 5:00 PM.
Current Meal-a-Month Vacancies:
2nd Thursday
4th Wednesday
Gardening & Yardwork
Help keep Tedford’s outdoor spaces welcoming, safe, and well cared for throughout the seasons. Volunteers assist with gardening, planting, watering, weeding, and light yardwork that supports a peaceful and inviting environment for guests, staff, and visitors.
Youth Play Groups
Support young children (ages 0–5) and their caregivers while they access services at Tedford’s emergency shelter. Volunteers help facilitate early literacy and play-based activities like storytime, songs, fingerplays, crafts, and simple games that support learning, connection, and comfort. These playgroups offer children a safe, welcoming space to explore and engage while their parent or caregiver is on site. Additional volunteer training and background check is required to participate in this role.
Adult Shelter Programming
We’re looking to grow and explore new programming in Tedford Housing’s adult shelter (serving up to 24 guests), with an emphasis on connection, routine, and community.
We’re especially interested in volunteers who want to share a skill, interest, or idea—this could look like informal art groups, music or storytelling, yoga or movement, wellness activities, game nights, or even therapy animal visits. We’re open to piloting new ideas and seeing what resonates, and all programming is done in partnership with staff to ensure it fits the needs and interests of guests. Additional training required for client-facing role.
Transportation & Movers
Transportation is one of the most common barriers for Tedford guests—whether it’s getting to appointments, moving into a new home, or picking up essential items along the way.
Volunteers help bridge that gap by assisting with moves into housing, and occasionally helping with essential trips or deliveries that support stability and a fresh start.
Event & Office Support
Do you like behind-the-scenes work or helping things run smoothly in the background? There are lots of ways to jump in and support Tedford Housing and our community events.
Volunteers help with setup and teardown for events like community BBQs, parades, and fundraisers—setting up tables, chairs, and helping things come together on event days. In the office, support may also include helping with mailings, answering phones, taking messages, and keeping call logs up to date so nothing falls through the cracks.
Warm Thy Neighbor Interviewer (Seasonal)
Warm Thy Neighbor is a privately funded program that provides emergency heating assistance to eligible residents across Midcoast communities, including Brunswick, Bath, Topsham, Lisbon, Harpswell, and surrounding towns.
Volunteers support this seasonal program by calling applicants to review and process information, completing basic paperwork for internal records, and coordinating with fuel companies to place orders and confirm delivery details. This is a seasonal volunteer role (late fall through early spring) with a weekly commitment of a few hours, scheduled Monday–Friday.
Warming Center Host (Seasonal)
Tedford Housing’s Overnight Winter Warming Center provides a safe, low-barrier space for unhoused neighbors to stay warm during the winter months. Open seasonally from November 15 through April 30, the Center offers meals, rest, and safety during the coldest time of year.
Volunteer hosts help serve meals, brew coffee, and keep the kitchen clean and organized, while supporting a welcoming and respectful environment for guests. A volunteer application and an orientation with Tedford staff is required for this role.