Opportunities From: Volunteers United

A Donation Drive is one of the best ways to help us serve our guests' needs!

Host a Donation Drive: A donation drive is a great option for individuals as well as groups, and helps build positive momentum in our community. Your donation drive could be for nonperishable foods, personal hygiene items, warm clothes, outerwear, shoes, or other needed items. Donations may be delivered to our shelter, or we can make arrangements to pick up your collected items!

Impact of Opportunity: Guest House does not have funds for food, hygiene, or clothing; we rely on the generosity of our community to help provide these basic necessities to our guests. During cold months, our greatest need is for men's winter coats in 2XL-4XL sizes. Boots and sneakers are always needed as well. 

Please contact Mary Cappon, marycappon@guesthouseofmilwaukee.org to organize.

Guest House provides approximately 300-400 sandwiches daily to shelter guests and to those in need in our community. Our goal is to have sandwiches available to all those in need each day of the year.

Sandwiches can be made off-site and delivered or can be made on-site where a tour is provided to learn about our mission and programs. 

Please contact Mary Cappon, marycappon@guesthouseofmilwaukee.org, for sandwich donation guidelines and to schedule your delivery or on-site group. 

Food provides more than sustenance - it is also community and stability! Help us provide this and more to the men at Guest House. 

Meal Program: Purchase, prepare, and deliver/serve dinner for up to 86 shelter guests. We aim to have a hot dinner for our guests every single day, as it not only provides nourishment but also stability and community. We recommend, at a minimum, a meat-oriented main course, a vegetable side, and a carb side. Soda/juice and desserts are optional but always well appreciated. Food can be delivered cold or warm, and preferably delivered the day of serving. You can also choose to stay and serve the meal. Please respond/sign-up for details and available dates.  

If you are looking to support a local business or just feel too busy to cook, consider purchasing a catered meal or pizza dinner for our guests!  

Impact of Opportunity: Without a meal budget, Guest House counts on the generosity of community groups to provide meals to our guests. We strive to provide a warm dinner to our guests every evening.   

PURPOSE: Guests are appreciative when we offer Treat Bags at lunch, dinner, or as a snack throughout the day. They appreciate the delicious foods, the fun presentation, and the knowledge that someone in our community is thinking of them. Additionally, Treat Bags can be part of the many ways that guests’ basic and emotional needs are met, allowing them to better focus on their progress and goals.

DESCRIPTION: Your group will plan, purchase ingredients and assemble single-serving Treat Bags. These consist of disposable cellophane, plastic, or paper baggies filled with purchased or homemade snacks/sweets. This is a great at-home volunteer option for younger groups and families. You can also prepare them on-site and receive a tour. We ask for Treat Bags in increments of 30 (30, 60, 90, etc.).

NOTES: Homemade snacks, such as trail mix, puppy chow, and cookies, are welcome. For these items that lack labels/packaging, please date each baggie with a sharpie, referring to the day the food was made (this can be small, in the corner). Additionally, please. make sure any nuts or common allergens are more obviously labeled- we recommend using a white label sticker, with a printed or handwritten message.

- A handwritten card or note in each Treat Bag is not required but much appreciated. Similarly, paper baggies can be decorated. Please keep notes respectful and free of religious notions or personal contact information. A Guest House staff member will read through all cards- therefore, please either make them visible through the bag, or choose a resealable bag that we can access.

- We love offering guests fruit, but it can get mushy quickly in a baggie. Please include any fruit donations separately, and we will hand out with the Treat Bags.

- Single-serving drinks are not required but appreciated. Feel free to include in Treat Bag, or donate separately and we can hand out with the Treat Bags.

- This volunteer activity is specific to food and drink items. Please do not include hygiene items, gift cards, or money in Treat Bags

RESPOND to this opportunity to be of service or sign-up to receive additional information.