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Volunteering as a Group: Team Building, Bonding, and Giving Back in the DMV Area
- karuppec
- Mar 12
- 4 min read
Looking for a meaningful way to strengthen your team, bond with friends, or bring your neighborhood together? Volunteering as a group is a fantastic way to build relationships while making a positive impact on the community. Whether you're an office team, a group of friends, or a neighborhood association, there are numerous opportunities to contribute. Kindness-Heals Village has put together a list of several organizations in the DMV area that welcome groups of various sizes:
1. A Wider Circle (Silver Spring, MD)
What they do: Fight poverty by providing essential household items and workforce development services.
Group size: Up to 20 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Sorting donations, organizing furniture, and assisting clients.
Website: https://awidercircle.org/
2. Capital Area Food Bank (Washington, DC)
What they do: Address hunger by distributing nutritious food to families in need.
Group size: 5-25 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Sorting and packing food, preparing meal kits, and distributing food.
Website: https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/
3. Shepherd’s Table (Silver Spring, MD)
What they do: Provide meals and social services for homeless and low-income individuals.
Group size: 4-12 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Serving meals, meal prep, and organizing food donations.
Website: https://www.shepherdstable.org/
4. DC Central Kitchen (Washington, DC)
What they do: Prepare healthy meals for the homeless while training unemployed individuals for culinary careers.
Group size: 10-30 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Meal preparation, chopping vegetables, and packaging meals.
Website: https://dccentralkitchen.org/
DC Central Kitchen Gleaning Program (Washington, DC & surrounding farms)
What they do: Rescue surplus produce from local farms to feed those in need.
Group size: 5-30 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Harvesting, sorting, and distributing food.
5. Habitat for Humanity of Metro Maryland (Various locations in MD)
What they do: Build and repair homes for families in need.
Group size: 5-15 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Construction work, painting, and home repairs.
Website: https://www.habitatmm.org/
6. Anacostia Watershed Society (Washington, DC & MD)
What they do: Restore and protect the Anacostia River and its surroundings.
Group size: 5-50 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Tree planting, river cleanups, and invasive species removal.
Website: https://www.anacostiaws.org/
7. Food for Others (Fairfax, VA)
What they do: Provide emergency food assistance to families in Northern Virginia.
Group size: 5-30 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Packing food boxes, distributing groceries, and assisting in the warehouse.
Website: https://www.foodforothers.org/
8. Kunzang Odsal Palyul Changchub Choling (KPC) Buddhist Temple (Poolesville)
What they do: Maintain a sacred space for meditation, spiritual practice, and environmental stewardship.
Group size: 5-15 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Garden maintenance, temple cleaning, event setup, and environmental conservation projects.
Website: https://www.tara.org/
9. Second Hand Chance (Washington, DC)
What they do: Provide second chances for formerly incarcerated individuals through job training.
Group size: 5-20 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Mentoring, job coaching, and resource distribution.
Website: https://secondhandchance.org/
10. I Support the Girls (Multiple Locations in DMV)
What they do: Collect and distribute bras and menstrual hygiene products to those in need.
Group size: 4-20 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Sorting donations, packaging, and distribution.
Website: https://isupportthegirls.org/
11. Clarksburg Closet (Clarksburg, MD)
What they do: Provide free clothing and essential items to local families in need.
Group size: 3-15 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Organizing donations, assisting clients, and sorting clothes.
Website: https://www.clarksburgcloset.org/
12. Food & Friends (Washington, DC)
What they do: Provide medically tailored meals and groceries to individuals with serious illnesses.
Group size: 5-25 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Meal prep, packing, and delivery.
Website: https://foodandfriends.org/
13. Comfort Cases (Rockville, MD)
What they do: Provide backpacks filled with essential items for children in foster care.
Group size: 5-30 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Packing bags with toiletries, pajamas, and other essentials.
Website: https://www.comfortcases.org/
14. Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation (Arlington, VA & beyond)
What they do: Rescue and rehome stray and abandoned pets.
Group size: 4-10 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Animal care, adoption events, and fundraising.
Website: https://lostdogrescue.org/
15. Bread for the City (Washington, DC)
What they do: Provide food, medical, and legal assistance to low-income residents.
Group size: 6-15 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Sorting and distributing food, assisting with events.
Website: https://breadforthecity.org/
16. Interfaith Works (Rockville, MD)
What they do: Support the homeless and low-income individuals with housing and essential services.
Group size: 4-20 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Organizing donations, meal preparation, and shelter support.
Website: https://www.iworksmc.org/
17. Housing Unlimited (Montgomery County, MD)
What they do: Provide affordable housing for individuals with psychiatric disabilities.
Group size: 3-15 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Home maintenance, moving assistance, and administrative support.
Website: https://housingunlimited.org/
18. Humane Rescue Alliance (Washington, DC)
What they do: Provide care and adoption services for homeless animals.
Group size: 4-10 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Cleaning animal areas, socializing pets, and helping with events.
19. Rock Creek Conservancy (Washington, DC)
What they do: Protect and restore Rock Creek Park and its watershed.
Group size: 5-40 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Trail maintenance, trash cleanup, and tree planting.
20. Martha’s Table (Washington, DC)
What they do: Support strong children, families, and communities with food, education, and health programs.
Group size: 6-20 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Food distribution, sorting clothing donations, and preparing meals.
Website: https://marthastable.org/
21. I Support the Girls (Multiple Locations in DMV)
What they do: Collect and distribute bras and menstrual hygiene products to those in need.
Group size: 4-20 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Sorting donations, packaging, and distribution.
Website: https://isupportthegirls.org/
22. What Else (Rockville, MD)
What they do: Provide free community programs and essential resources to underserved youth and families.
Group size: 5-50 volunteers.
Volunteer activities: Packing food, mentoring, and running community programs.
Website: https://www.sowhatelse.org/
Volunteering as a group is a powerful way to make a difference while strengthening bonds. Whether serving meals, cleaning up local parks, or mentoring others, choose an opportunity and make volunteering a part of your group's culture!
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