Rochester's Community Wishbook

Provides direct, low-barrier support to individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use, poverty, food insecurity, and other barriers to stability.

Provides hot meals and bagged lunches, clothing, hygiene supplies, seasonal survival gear, harm reduction supplies and education, naloxone distribution and training, wound-care supplies, peer support, resource navigation, wellness checks, syringe cleanup and safe disposal, and other basic necessities with dignity and compassion.

● men’s and women’s clothing, especially practical seasonal clothing (small, md, large and xl only)\
● men’s shoes and sneakers, particularly larger sizes
● socks and underwear, new
● bras
● leggings and comfortable women’s pants
● coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and other winter gear
● tents, tarps, sleeping bags, and blankets
● backpacks, duffel bags, and drawstring bags
● hygiene products and toiletries
● feminine hygiene products
● bottled water, juice, and individually packaged snacks
● sandwich and bagged-lunch supplies
● canned and frozen foods for our outreach food team
● coffee, hot cocoa, cups, and other beverage supplies
● pet food and basic pet supplies
● hand warmers and other seasonal survival supplies
● cleaning and outreach supplies

• Sunday Outreach Volunteers:  Help set up tables and supplies, prepare and distribute meals, clothing, hygiene products, survival supplies, and other necessities. Assist with cleanup and organizing supplies before and after outreach.
• Donation Sorting & Organization:  Help sort, size, organize, and prepare donated clothing, shoes, hygiene items, and other supplies at our storage units and outreach center.
• Meal & Lunch Preparation:  Prepare sandwiches, assemble bagged lunches, organize snacks and beverages, and assist our food team with preparing items for weekly outreach.
• Donation Drives: Individuals, families, schools, businesses, and community groups can organize drives for clothing, hygiene products, food, seasonal survival supplies, or other high-need items.
• Special Events & Community Projects:  Assist with community events, overdose awareness activities, donation drives, outreach preparation, cleanup projects, and other special initiatives throughout the year.

We welcome individuals who need volunteer or community-service hours for school, college, employment programs, or other requirements when appropriate.

 TEENS or Groups of Teens: Opportunities:

Many RAW volunteer opportunities are appropriate for teens, including donation sorting, organizing clothing and supplies, assembling hygiene kits and bagged lunches, preparing outreach materials, donation drives, and certain community events.

Teen groups are welcome, and we are happy to coordinate projects that are age-appropriate and meaningful.

Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.

Because some aspects of our direct street outreach involve adult situations and environments, participation in direct outreach may be determined based on age, the activity involved, and appropriate adult supervision. We are always happy to work with schools, youth organizations, families, and teen groups to identify a volunteer opportunity that is safe, appropriate, and genuinely helpful to the community.