Current Drives
Organize a drive in your neighborhood, at your church or your company.
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
Hunger is a serious problem in America. In Washington, DC alone, 1 in 7 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! Host a drive at your business, neighborhood, church, or club, or make it a family project to help Central Union Mission feed the hungry.
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.
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.
Winter in Washington, DC can be dangerously cold, and people in our community who are experiencing poverty or homeless don’t have the proper warm clothing to withstand extreme temperatures. You can help protect our vulnerable neighbors by organizing a winter coat drive in your community – coats, hats, gloves, and scarves in all sizes are needed.
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.
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
When you organize a sandwich-assembly project with your family or small group, you help provide food for hungry people in our community every day. It’s an easy project that can make a significant impact on people experiencing hunger or homelessness in DC.
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.