CURRENT VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
Below is a list of current volunteering opportunities as well as needed item donations that our Partner Agencies have informed us about. This will be updated as we are informed of new needs so check back frequently.
Senior Companion
Shoe Donations
The Senior Companion Program accepts donations of old shoes. If you have old shoes you no longer use DON’T THROW THEM OUT. Senior companions can collect them and turn them in for cash donations.
Founded in 1988, Appalachian State University’s Senior Companion Program supports seniors across Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Watauga, and Wilkes counties by helping them remain independent and connected as they age.
Through one-on-one companionship and assistance, volunteers provide meaningful support that improves quality of life for seniors and caregivers alike. Qualified volunteers may receive modest reimbursement for meals and travel without affecting government benefits.
We are grateful for this incredible nonprofit and proud to partner with the Senior Companion Program to support the seniors in our communities.
📧 Email appseniorprograms@appstate.edu
☎️ Phone (336) 846-4898
Catherine H. Barber Memorial Shelter
Food Donations
If you have leftover food from church events or family gatherings, please consider donating it to the Catherine H. Barber Memorial Homeless Shelter. Your food donations help provide warm meals, comfort, and dignity to individuals and families in need in our community. Every meal makes a difference. ❤️
Since 1987, the Catherine H. Barber Memorial Shelter for the Homeless has served men, women, and families with children in Wilkes County, providing support 365 days a year. This temporary overnight shelter offers essential services including bathing and laundry facilities, as well as a clean, warm bed for those in need.
Beyond immediate shelter, the organization helps individuals take the next steps forward by connecting them with permanent housing resources, addiction services, job placement support, clothing vouchers, and more.
Named in honor of Catherine Harris Barber—a lifelong humanitarian and Wilkes County native—the shelter continues to uphold her legacy of compassion and service. We are grateful to be a partner agency with this vital organization and to support their work for our neighbors in need.
📧 Email catherinehbarber@aol.com
💻 Website | Facebook | Instagram
☎️ Phone (336) 838-7120
Samaritan’s Kitchen
Supply Donations
Samaritan’s Kitchen is always in need of plastic grocery bags, and empty egg cartons.
Since 1998, Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes, Inc. has been dedicated to fighting hunger and food insecurity in Wilkes County. What began as volunteers serving hot meals to families in need on Saturdays has grown into a comprehensive support system serving hundreds of neighbors each month.
Today, the organization provides a monthly pantry that supplies families with a shopping cart full of groceries, as well as a backpack program that sends food home weekly with children who rely on school meals. For nearly 30 years, Samaritan Kitchen has worked tirelessly to ensure no one in Wilkes County goes hungry—and that mission is more important than ever during these challenging times.
We are grateful to support and partner with this incredible organization that continues to make a meaningful difference in our community.
☎️ Phone(336) 838-5331
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