Thank you so much for your interest in humbly volunteering with The Salvation Army in doing THE MOST GOOD throughout our Harrisburg community!

How to Become a Salvation Army Volunteer:

Step 1: Complete your Volunteer Application

Step 2: Complete your clearances as noted within the application and send them to lily.markley@use.salvationarmy.org.

Step 3: Click here to sign up for your first shift!

COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS – If you are interested in Community Service Volunteering, please complete this application and all clearances noted within. Afterward, email your letter of interest to lily.markley@use.salvationarmy.org before signing up for volunteering.

Interested in group volunteering opportunities? Email lily.markley@use.salvationarmy.org for more information!

Year-Round Volunteering Opportunities

CHOICE FOOD PANTRY

DESCRIPTION:  Our Choice Food Pantry allows clients to shop for and choose their own food from our food pantry, including shelf-stable foods and fresher products like produce, milk, eggs, and frozen meats. 

TASKS: Assisting clients with checking in and walking them through the pantry to select their foods of choice, as well as stocking and cleaning the food stations.

DAYS AND TIMES: We operate the Choice Food Pantry every day except for Sundays at a variety of times.

AGE REQUIREMENTS: Ages 18 and older

WAREHOUSE

DESCRIPTION: Our behind-the-scenes Warehouse is what makes our Choice Food Pantry possible. We gratefully receive perishable and nonperishable foods from a variety of grocery stores. Our warehouse volunteers sort through and stock the food pantry with this food.

TASKS: Assisting with the receiving, unboxing, sorting, and organizing of donated foods, and delivering to the Choice Food Pantry. *Must be able to be on your feet for 3-hours and lift up to 20 lbs*.

DAYS AND TIMES: We operate the Warehouse every morning and afternoon, Monday-Friday.

AGE REQUIREMENTS: Ages 14 and older, if 14-16 must be accompanied by an adult.

FAMILIES GO M.A.D. (MAKE A DIFFERENCE)

DESCRIPTION: This quarterly event takes place in the evenings and hosts up to 10 families for a volunteering activity with their children/grandchildren between the ages of 8-14 years of age. 

TASKS: Transferring bulk spices to individuals’ bags and labeling them for the Choice Food Pantry, packaging hygiene kits, creating cards and other materials that are helpful and counseling for our clients, and more! 

DAYS AND TIMES TO SIGN UP: First Wednesday of every month from 6 – 7 PM. Please sign up at this link.

AGE REQUIREMENTS: Ages 8-14 with their parents or guardian.

FAMILY TABLE TEACHING KITCHEN

DESCRIPTION: The Family Table is our teaching kitchen that offers free nutrition and cooking classes to kids, adults, and seniors where we teach participants how to prepare affordable, simple, and healthy meals for themselves and their families.

TASKS: Assisting the nutrition instructor with greeting participants, distributing, and prepping class materials, and assisting with the chopping, measuring, sauteing, and overall meal preparation alongside the participants. As well as post-class clean-up such as washing dishes and wiping down counter tops.

DAYS AND TIMES: We operate The Cooking Class series in The Family Table - Teaching Kitchen that are 6-week classes in either afternoons or evenings. Sign-up here.

AGE REQUIREMENTS: Ages 18 and older.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Must have kitchen and cooking comfortability and familiarity.

FACILITY GARDENS AND LANDSCAPING

DESCRIPTION: Our facility gardens and landscaping are our way of creating a welcoming and peaceful environment for our clients and community and includes vegetable gardens and a wide array of flora.

TASKS: Digging, mulching, planting, harvesting, watering, trimming, and other landscaping activities to maintain the produce production and flora beautification.

DAYS AND TIMES: Sign-up here for gardening from April – August yearly.

AGE REQUIREMENTS: Ages 14 and older.

YOUTH AND FAMILY EDUCATION

DESCRIPTION: Our Youth and Family Education department is dedicated to supporting and empowering families and young people in educational enrichment activities for after-school programs, as well as summer programs.

TASKS: Assisting teachers with classroom oversight and student enrichment activities such as tutoring, homework assistance, and other learning objectives.     

DAYS AND TIMES:  We do not have regularly scheduled Youth and Family Education volunteering opportunities, however, if you are interested, you may email your interest to harrisburg.volunteer@use.salvationarmy.org.

DRESS: Closed toe shoes are necessary. Please wear breathable, appropriate, and comfortable clothing. 

AGE REQUIREMENTS: Any age!

BUSINESS TAKEOVER DAY

DESCRIPTION: The Salvation Army has three primary departments that have daily needs and activities. This Business Takeover Day is a time where utilize the help from a larger group and disperse volunteers throughout each of our departments, which includes about two people in the Choice Food Pantry, two people in the Warehouse, 2-5 people in administrative activities, and the remainder in the garden.

TASKS:

• Choice Food Pantry: Assisting clients with checking in and walking them through the pantry to select their foods of choice, as well as stocking and cleaning the food stations.
• Warehouse: Assisting with the receiving, unboxing, sorting, and organizing of donated foods, and delivering to the Choice Food Pantry.
• Administrative: Folding volunteer shirts, labeling, writing notes, filing data, stamping and filling envelopes, etc.
• Garden: Digging, mulching, planting, harvesting, watering, trimming, and other landscaping activities to maintain the produce production and flora beautification.

DAYS AND TIMES:  If you are interested, you may email your interest to lily.markley@use.salvationarmy.org.

AGE REQUIREMENTS: Ages 14 and older.

GROUP OPPORTUNITIES: Yes! Just coordinate dates, times, and number of volunteers with lily.markley@use.salvationarmy.org.

EMERGENCY DISASTER SERVICES CANTEEN TRUCK TEAM 

DESCRIPTION: Our Emergency Disaster Services Canteen Truck is dedicated to supporting disaster victims and Emergency Responders within Dauphin, Perry, and Cumberland Counties, with refreshments and spiritual encouragement so they can complete their services to the Communities. 

TASKS: Our variety of volunteer services needs include Municipal networking for services; Personnel staffing and dispatch; Equipment supply readiness; Operating the Canteen Truck; Food and beverage supply readiness; Food preparation and serving; Spiritual guidance and encouragement, and Humanitarian needs networking. 

DAYS AND TIMES: Our Primary function is an “on-call, as-needed” service. We have limited scheduled opportunities. Please contact lily.markley@use.salvationarmy.org  if you are interested in joining this team.

AGE REQUIREMENTS: 18 and Older. 

TRAINING: Training will be provided in addition to “on-the-job” guidance. 

GROUP OPPORTUNITIES: We attend regular Community events during the year to show Community support and to keep our team “in-readiness”. 

HOLIDAY PROGRAMS & SERVICES:

Please check back later in the year for 2026 Opportunities!