Current Drives
Organize a drive in your neighborhood, at your church or your company.
In Washington, DC, one in seven households struggles to put food on the table each day, with seniors and children being impacted the most. Central Union Mission helps by providing fresh groceries to needy seniors and families at our Family Ministry Center. You can also help by organizing a food drive in your community!
Did you know that 37 percent of families with children in Washington, DC don’t have enough money to buy the food they need? You can help by participating in the Mission’s Feed My Family Drive. When you shop for groceries for your family, purchase some for another family and then drop off your donation at the Mission.
Create something that is both inspirational and useful!
A sandwich size zipper bag packed with a plastic fork, knife and spoon, a napkin and a card of inspiration–either a verse or words of encouragement– written on a 5×7 index card (or index-sized card) and placed in the zipper bag.
Clothing is always needed by the men, families, and seniors served at Central Union Mission. Whether it’s professional attire, everyday apparel, or cold weather gear, your clothing donations are greatly appreciated. It’s easy to organize a clothing drive in your community – download our flyer here to use for organizing your Clothing Drive.
We have to wash the bedding in the shelter every night of the year—that puts a lot of wear and tear on the linen.
Items needed
- twin-sized white, sheets (fitted and/or flat)
- white pillow cases
- twin-sized pillows
- twin-sized blankets (any color as long as they are machine washable)
- white bath and face towels
Being homeless often means having no access to supplies we take for granted. The Fresh Start Shoebox Drive can help, and it’s an easy and engaging volunteer opportunity for individuals, families and groups of any size. All you need are shoeboxes and a variety of small personal care items to help keep a homeless man or woman clean and safe.
Here’s a service opportunity that benefits your group as well as the residents of Central Union Mission! Ready2Recycle is a work development program that employs homeless men to pick up, sort, and manage donations, which are then used to help provide products and services for the vulnerable people we serve. The men employed by Ready2Recylce gain valuable work experience while earning and saving their salary to help secure permanent housing
Soups, stews and chili are fun projects for volunteers, and each makes a delightful addition to our meal options. Whether through providing the ingredients, preparing the meal and/or even serving it, this is a helpful way volunteers can affect the lives of those less fortunate.
Do you love to bake and create desserts and treats? You can share your sweet passion with the men of the mission by creating a dessert specially for them.
Central Union Mission cares for thousands of homeless men at our emergency shelter every year. Necessities such as disposable razors, underwear in all sizes, socks, and shower sandals are needed by our guests every day. The Mission also cares for needy people who stop by the shelter daily, who need a variety of additional items such as rain ponchos, bottled water, and luggage with wheels. If you can help with any of these items, please see drop-off details below.